Posted by Former Black Stars right back, John Painstil has divulged how he had to fight a teammate at the 2002 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) due to segregation in the team camp.
The former Fulham right back was recounting on some of the sad moments he had when he first joined the Black Stars.
“I experienced segregation even at the Black Stars camp. Some of my teammates had issues with certain players from certain parts of the country”, he told Angel FM.
“The most painful and hurtful part of segregation I have endured was here in Ghana when a teammate called me a monkey from Berekum,” he noted.
John Painstil went on to reveal that there was a time when he was involved in a brawl with one of the senior members of the Black Stars team whilst in camp.
“When I joined the Black Stars at one point I had to fight a teammate who looked down on me just because of where I come from”, he added.
This wouldn’t be no news to most people as John Painstil weeks ago in an interview with Kasapa FM revealed that he had a scuffle with Emmanuel Osei Kuffour “the General” in the aforementioned tournament.
“I fought with one of my seniors during that tournament. Emmanuel Kuffour the General is that player. He brought the fight. He was bullying and making life uncomfortable for me in camp.”
“I know he will laugh over it now because we have moved on. He really made feel bad in camp so one day I just couldn’t tolerate him any longer so I threw the punch, he replied and we fought”.
“The national team was rough at that time but I think we were rebuilding. There was no unity among the players because everyone felt he was a senior”, he told Kasapa radio.
John Painstil featured in 89 games for the Blacks Stars, he also featured in multiple tournaments including the 2006 and 2010 World Cup in Germany and South Africa.
John Paintsil is currently the Director for Legon Cities FC.