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Soccer News of Tuesday, 24 February 2004

Source: GNA

Painstil ready to heed to national call

Israeli based John Painstil has expressed his readiness to heed to the national call anytime he is given an invitation to play for the national team.

Painstil, who until last Sunday has not been able to feature for the national team as a result of injuries and has accordingly missed some crucial international matches bounced back last Sunday in the match against Algeria.

Speaking in an interview with the GNA Sports in Accra the utility star said "it has never been my intention to turn my back to the national team and I would be ready to put my services at the disposal of the team at anytime that I am invited".

Painstil however, appealed to the Ghana Football Association (GFA) to ensure that invitation letters are sent to them in due time to enable them honour such national calls.

He expressed worry over the situation where they receive invitations at short notices, which results in their frequent absence from the national team.

"The best way to have a cohesive team is to have enough training with our local colleagues and this can be done by extending early invitation to us" Painstil added.

Painstil said they could have won the match against Algeria by a wider margin at the Kumasi Sports Stadium last Sunday if they had arrived in Ghana early and trained enough with their local colleagues. The utility player urged the GFA to take a second look at the situation so that a more formidable team would be presented in their match against the South Africans in March.

Painstil said the nation has a brighter chance of making it to Athens 2004 Olympic Games, since the players are ever ready to sacrifice to that course.

Painstil played a key role in last Sunday's 2-0 victory, over Algeria in the Olympic Games, qualifier at the Kumasi Sports Stadium.