Ghana defender John Paintsil

By Ameenu Shardow

Defender John Paintsil believes the young players in the Ghana team will eventually come good.

There are 10 players in the Black Stars team making their debut at the Nations Cup in South Africa.

Emerging stars like Mubarak Wakaso, Christian Atsu and Rabiu Mohammed played a part in Ghana’s 2-2 draw with DR Congo in the opening Group B game last Sunday.

Some of these players in particular Atsu failed to impress in their first Nations Cup game – drawing critics in the process.

But Paintsil, 31, who has been with the Black Stars team for 10-years believes the youngsters will come into their own haven gone through the mill before as a budding star himself.

“I was once a young player and such occasions are always difficult for especially the young players,” he said.

“I as a senior player I know how these games are. Such competitions like the Africa Cup of Nations are very difficult.

“We played against a decent side so after the game I called the guys and told them; ‘come on we have played six games and now left with five more.’

“So we should forget about the Congo game and focus on Mali. We shouldn’t dwell too much on the Congo game or else it will affect us and that we should take one game at a time.”