Richard Kingson: I want to play again for my son

Former Ghana goalkeeper Richard Kingson has hinted that he will make a comeback into the posts anytime soon for a local club, insisting that his playing days are far from over.

The man who had distinguished career as Ghana’s first choice goalkeeper at the 2000 and 2010 African Cup of Nations, as well as the 2006 and 2010 FIFA World Cup tournaments, said last Saturday that he had not called time on his playing career even though he had not played for a club since last featuring for Turkish side Balıkesirspor, is currently training young goalkeepers and is also the head coach of Ghanaian Division One side, Emmanuel FC.

Honour his son
On his 43rd birthday, Kingson told Joy FM that he wanted to honour the wish of his four-year-old son who never saw his father play but only heard about his exploits and, therefore, wanted to see him back in the posts before calling time on his playing career.

“I was playing one day when it occurred to me to break the trend of not seeing my father [a former goalkeeper of Great Olympics] when he played, which has urged me to return to the field only for my son to watch me play. Even if it is for just two games, I would be okay.

“My coming back is not for the national team; I have retired from Black Stars. I would love to join a club for six months,” said Kingson who made 90 appearances for the national team and scored one goal.

Laryea’s omission from World Cup
The football legend lamented about his pain for not playing alongside his younger sibling, Laryea Kingston, at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, insisting the midfielder deserved to be part of the team on merit.

“I was not so much hurt when he [Laryea] did not get the nod for Ghana’s first World Cup appearance in Germany, unlike the 2010 tournament. It was a 50-50 decision taken by the GFA, because of the two-match ban he was serving after picking up a red card in an AFCON game against Senegal at Egypt 2006.”

“I felt very bad when I heard Coach Milovan Rajevac has dropped Laryea from his final squad for the 2010 World Cup. I believe my brother was qualified enough to be part of the team,” lamented Kingson who was the goalkeeper’s trainer of the Black Stars at the 2019 AFCON in Egypt.

“He deserved to be at the World Cup. If the first one was a mistake, he played in the qualifiers [for the 2010 World Cup] and was in form and fit, so why was he left out?”