Ex-EPL, Ghana star John Paintsil hospitalized after road accident
Former Premier League defender, John Paintsil, has been urgently transported to the hospital following a severe car accident.
The 43-year-old, who once played for clubs like West Ham United, Fulham, and Leicester City, currently serves as the assistant manager for Ghana’s national football team.
Paintsil, along with head coach Otto Addo and goalkeeping coach Fatawu Dauda, was en route back to Accra after attending a cup final in Tarkwa on Saturday when their vehicle was involved in a tragic accident.
According to reports from Ghana, their vehicle collided with a pickup truck while on their way back from the southwestern town of Tarkwa.
All three members of the Black Stars’ coaching staff were immediately taken to the hospital for emergency care.
The Ghana Football Association later provided an update, assuring the public that the trio was in a “stable condition” after receiving medical attention.
Photos and video footage from the accident scene reveaedl a heavily damaged SUV, with one side of the vehicle entirely crushed and the wheels dislodged.
As investigations continue in Accra, the Ghanaian national team is preparing for their upcoming international fixtures against Angola and Niger.
The GFA released a statement saying, “Members of the Black Stars technical team were involved in a road accident while returning from Tarkwa. The vehicle carrying head coach Otto Addo, assistant coach John Paintsil, and goalkeepers trainer Fatawu Dauda avoided a head-on collision with a pickup truck which veered off into its lane, with some damage to the vehicle.”
The statement continued, “All three members of the technical team are in stable condition. They will undergo further medical assessments upon their return to Accra.”
John Paintsil enjoyed a long and varied career as a full-back and defensive midfielder.
He earned 89 caps for the Ghanaian national team over 12 years, representing his country in both the Olympics and the FIFA World Cup, where he notably reached the quarterfinals in the 2010 tournament in South Africa.
Paintsil was signed by West Ham United under the management of Alan Pardew following the 2006 World Cup.
Hammers supporters fondly remember his unique appearance on the pitch, often playing with one long sleeve and the other cut short.
His football journey took him from Ghanaian side Berekum Arsenal to stints with Maccabi and Hapoel Tel Aviv, before he made the move to the Premier League in 2006 with West Ham.
