Joseph Paintsil has opened up about the moment he realised his dream of playing at the 2022 FIFA World Cup would not materialise, pointing to a decision by then Black Stars coach Otto Addo that he still struggles to make sense of.
The winger says the news came directly from Addo, who phoned him to explain why he had been left out of the final squad. That conversation, according to Paintsil, left more questions than answers and deepened his frustration.
Now plying his trade in the United States with LA Galaxy, Paintsil insists he never received a clear footballing justification for the snub. In his view, the decision appeared predetermined, despite his form at the time.
“It means a lot. Four years ago, I was really disappointed with the decision of the coach of the national team, which had no tangible or reasonable explanation for me being excluded from the list. We had a lot of ups and downs, talks. There was no miscommunication, but I think they already planned it.
“It wasn’t about my performance. Because I spoke to the coach and he admitted I was really good, I was scoring goals and everything. But at the end of the day, the only answer he gave me was that football is not about goals and assists,” he said.
Paintsil recounts that when he pressed further, Addo eventually pointed to concerns about his defensive work rate. That explanation, however, did not sit well with the attacker, who believes his primary role should not be judged on defensive output.
He maintains that he was willing to adapt when needed, including tracking back, but felt the expectation placed on him blurred the line between his role and that of a defender.
“I was like, what is really going on? If football is not about goals and assists, then what am I even doing here? So I asked him what was the reason I wasn’t in the squad. He told me there’s no reason, but the only reason is I don’t defend. And I was like, I’m not a defender, I’m an offensive player. If it’s for me to defend, I will in certain situations in the game because I’m a player who is really quick and can take players on and make decisions. If I have to defend, I can defend, but not throughout the game,” he explained.
Despite offering to contribute more defensively, Paintsil says the coach held firm on his stance, ultimately leaving him out of the tournament.
“I can track back, yes, but don’t tell me to be like a defender and put my attacking mindset aside, because it’s my attacking mindset that has made me who I am today and put me in this position. So there was no tangible explanation. And yes, I was left behind, really disappointed. But I always need to respect the call-up of the national team.”
Watch his statement below.
