My first Black Stars call-up was a dream come true – Joseph Paintsil

In-form Black Stars winger, Joseph Paintsil has revealed the emotions that followed his first call up to the senior national team earlier this year.

For the Genk player, making his debut for the country at the senior level has always been an occasion he was anticipating since he turned a professional footballer.

In an exclusive interview with Accra based Joy News, Joseph Paintsil narrated how a cracking game against West Ham United in the Europa League earned him his call up.

“We played a Europa League game against West Ham [United] and I think he [Milovan Rajevac] was also watching the game,” he said.

“I heard from [my entourage] that the coach watched the game and was really impressed so he would like to call me. Alex [Asante] also called me and told me to send him my passport details…when he calls or texts you, you know it’s for the national team.

“[Milo] scouted me when I played against West Ham and that was how it all started. I just had my first call-up to the national team,” he continued.

Having played for Ghana’s youth teams, the 24-year-old described his first-call up as a dream come true for him and his family.

“I was happy [after my first Black Stars call-up] and it was a dream come true because I’d played for the junior national teams and was waiting for this moment,” he added.

“Although I knew, they also got to know through the television announcements. My sister called me and they were all happy as we spoke.”

Paintsil has had a blistering start to life in the 2022/23 season, scoring six league goals and providing four assists as he hopes to make Ghana’s squad for the FIFA World Cup.

Since making his debut, the Genk winger has gone on to rack up five appearances for the Black Stars including playing his first competitive tournament during the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations.

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