John Paintsil
| File:JohnPantsil.jpg | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | John Pantsil | ||
| Height | 5 ft 8 in (1.70 m) | ||
| Position(s) | Defender | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | West Ham United (awaiting work-permit) | ||
| Number | TBA | ||
| ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 27 June, 2006 | |||
John Pantsil (born June 15, 1981) is a Ghanaian international football player who is playing for West Ham United.
A player comfortable at the full back or midfield position; Pantsil moved to Israeli club Maccabi Tel-Aviv after stints in his native Ghana with Berkum Arsenal and Liberty Professionals. In 2005 he was transferred to rivals Hapoel Tel-Aviv.
A committed Christian and an honest professional; Pantsil is known to pray in the dressing room before matches.
He was part of the Ghanaian 2004 Olympic football team, who exited in the first round, having finished in third place in group B. He is currently playing for the Ghanaian national team, which has recently reached the World Cup 2006 finals. This being the Black Stars' first ever appearance in the prestigious cup competition.
On 13 May 2006, Pantsil was named in Ghana's squad for the 2006 World Cup, and following his impressive showing in the World Cup - featuring in every game including against Brazil in the second round.
After the World Cup, Israeli international Yossi Benayoun recommended Pantsil to West Ham United manager Alan Pardew, as the Premier League club were in need of a new Right-Back. Pardew took Pantsil with the rest of the squad on their pre-season tour of Sweden, and featured in the matches out there, putting in some impressive performances. On 1 August 2006, West Ham United announced they had agreed a deal with Pantsil, prior to him recieving a work permit in the United Kingdom.
Flag controversy
Following the first and second goals in Ghana's impressive 2-0 victory over the Czech Republic on 17 June2006, he celebrated by waving an Israeli flag which he kept in his sock. The flag was a cut off a line of flags that was given to the Israeli public free by Bank Hapoalim before Israel's Independence Day celebrations. He was also seen waving the Israeli flag as the final whistle blew. This flag waving was highly protested by several in the Arab world, who saw the act as an insult directed towards the Palestinians. Some Egypt state run newspapers described the player in question as a 'Mossad agent' or that he was paid for this [1] without providing any basis for the allegations. When the Egyptian commentator saw the flag, he stopped his yelling of "Goal" and said, "what are you doing!?!"
Before the final group match versus the USA, the Ghanian FA had John Pantsil receive psychotherapy treatment because they were worried that with all the media attention he was receiving (both negative and positive) that he would be unable to perform in the squad's most crucial match.
Pantsil, said that he simply wanted to thank the people of Israel for their support. He is even more popular in Israel as a result of his gesture and has promised to explain his actions after the World Cup.[2]
Honors and awards
- FIFA World Youth Championship runner-up: 2001
