Paintsil:I chose Liberty over Hearts, Kotoko for their style

A Former Black Stars stalwart defender, John Paintsil, says both Accra Hearts of Oak and Asante Kotoko sought  his services during his formative years but he refused to sign for them because of his keen interest in Liberty Professionals.

“During my formative period, both Harry Zakkour of Hearts of Oak and Herbert Mensah of Kumasi Asante Kotoko were keen to sign me. They gave me money to entice me to play for them. I collected the money but told them that I was not interested in playing for either of them,” Paintsil  who started his football  career with Berekum Arsenal revealed during an exclusive interview with the Daily Graphic.

 “In those days, Herbert Mensah and Harry Zakkour enticed me with money to play for their respective teams but I was honest with them and told them that I was not interested.

"It was later that the late Alhaji Sly Tetteh came for me and I agreed. However, after playing for only six months, I had an offer to play in Israel which I accepted,” Paintsil, who retired from active football in 2013, explained.

Paintsil, who is now a management member of  Accra-based Legon Cities Football Club, recalled: “I was not interested in any monetary gain in domestic football. I just wanted to play for fun devoid of tension. In those days, the display of scientific football by Liberty Professionals attracted me so much.”

“That explains why I accepted to play for Alhaji Sly Tetteh. As I said earlier, their style of play suited me so much and when I signed for the club, the management style of the late Sly Tetteh also motivated me to stay with them but the offer from Israel ended my romance with Liberty Professionals prematurely.

“My reason for playing for Liberty was basically due to their sense of professionalism on and off the field,” he stressed.