Former Black Stars defender John Painstil says he enjoyed his best days in his playing career at Israeli side Hapoel Tel Aviv and English Premier League club Fulham.
The former Kaizer Chiefs assistant manager, who played for several clubs in Europe and in Ghana revealed that he enjoyed playing at two clubs the most, Hapoel Tel Aviv and Fulham.
“From local to International, I think I have played about ten clubs,” Painstil said on YFM. “Yea, I did enjoy playing for, I think two clubs, Hapoel Tel Aviv in Israel and Fulham FC in England,” he added.
The Ghanaian spent four year in Israel in his first stint, where he played for Meccabi Tel Aviv and later Hapoel Tel Aviv. John Painstil left Israel for England but later at the twilight of his career he returned to play for Hapoel Tel Aviv.
“Talking about Hapoel Tel Aviv, the fans were always there for me. Let me say the entire country, whether it was Meccabi Haifa or Tel Aviv, They loved me and always called me the Legend in football,”
“The said because of me (John) they always want to bring a Ghanaian player at the club. He is a good player and a tough guy and all that. So I became a fan favourite.”
Following his outstanding displays at the 2006 World Cup in Germany, he earned a move to England where he signed for West Ham United, but it didn’t take too long for him to join Fulham, where he help the club reavch the first ever European final.
“Moving to Fulham, it was the same thing, the fans were always the for me, the club and the manager, Roy Hodson, was giving me all the time that he has and also trying to polish my game, which he did, I don’t remember playing on the bench for him, I played all games through out to the Europa Cup finals.”
John Painstil recently returned from South Africa where he was assistant manager of ABSA Premiership side Kaizer Chiefs.
By Lukman Evergreen Mumin