Former West Ham and Fulham defender John Paintsil has lifted the lid on why he joined Liberty Professionals amid interest from Hearts of Oak and Asante Kotoko.
Paintsil was chased by both Hearts and Kotoko during his formative years but he opted to sign for the Scientific Soccer lads.
"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 Graphic Sports Online.
"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 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.