Former Black Stars number one Richard Kingson has revealed that erstwhile Inter Milan and Ac Milan midfielder Sulley Muntari was nearly axed from camp during the 2010 World Cup.
Sulley Muntari at the 2010 World Cup in Siuth Africa lost his place in the team, he started just one game which was against Uruguay in the quarterfinals.
Speaking in an interview on MAX TV, Richard Kingson revealed that his former teammate Muntari was nearly axed from camp for allegedly abusing then manager Milovan Rajevac verbally.
“We drew 1-1 with Australia and Sulley Muntari was not happy about the scoreline. After the game we were in the dressing room, Sulley didn’t play that game, he was on the bench so after the game, he was not happy about the result and was talking in the dressing room, he was talking in twi and Italia and he didn’t understand why we should draw with an Australia team with one man down,” Kingson told Max TV.
“So when we went back to the hotel, news came in that the Coach (Milovan Rajevac) said he wanted Sulley out of his camp because he has insulted him. So I decided to ask my teammates who spoke the Italia language, so at the end of the day the Coach said he wanted Sulley out of the camp.
“I don’t know whether he (Milovan Rajevac) understood Italia, so he said Sulley had to leave and we said No he should let Sulley stay, he can decide not to play him but shouldn’t sack him from camp.
The former Galatasaray goalkeeper also revealed how he and some officials intervned to have the decision by the Coach rescinded.
“The man still insisted Sulley must leave and we kept begging him even including Mr Nyantakyi. He was there, Fred Pappoe was there including some of the senior players and the interpreter of the Coach. We begged him. The Coach kept insisting Sulley leaves and if Sulley left it was also going to affect us so finally, I told him that if Sulley leaves then I will also leave,” he added.
“At the time the Coach said he (Sulley) should leave, he was so sober because he wanted to play. So I said I will leave if Sulley leaves then I left the meeting. I asked Sulley what he said wrong and he said he said nothing wrong and that he only complained about the fact that we were celebrating after drawing with 10-man Australia.”
Richard Kingson and Sulley Muntari featured for Ghana at 2 World Cups (2006, 2010) together.