John Pantsil

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

John Pantsil
Personal information
Full name John Pantsil
Date of birth 15 January 1981
Place of birth Berekum, Ghana
Height 5 ft 8 in (170 cm)
Position Defender
Club information
Current club West Ham United
Number 14
Youth clubs
1997–98 Berkum Arsenal
Professional clubs*
Years Club Apps (goals)
1999-2000
2000-2001
2001-2002
2002–2004
2004–2006
2006-present		 Berkum Arsenal
Liberty Professionals
Berkum Arsenal
Maccabi Tel Aviv
Hapoel Tel Aviv
West Ham United		  ? (?)
? (?)
? (?)
46 (0)
42 (3)
4 (0)
National team**
2001–present Ghana 25 (0)

* Professional club appearances and goals
counted for the domestic league only and
correct as of 15 June 2006.
** National team caps and goals correct
as of 27 June 2006.

John Pantsil (born June 15, 1981) is a Ghanaian international football player who is playing for West Ham United.

A player comfortable at the full back or midfield position; Pantsil moved to Israeli club Maccabi Tel-Aviv after stints in his native Ghana with Berkum Arsenal and Liberty Professionals. In 2005 he was transferred to rivals Hapoel Tel-Aviv.

A committed Christian and an honest professional; Pantsil is known to pray in the dressing room before matches.

He was part of the Ghanaian 2004 Olympic football team, who exited in the first round, having finished in third place in group B. He is currently playing for the Ghanaian national team, which has recently reached the World Cup 2006 finals. This was the Black Stars' first ever appearance in the prestigious cup competition.

On 13 May 2006, Pantsil was named in Ghana's squad for the 2006 World Cup, and following his impressive showing in the World Cup - featuring in every game including against Brazil in the second round.

After the World Cup, Israeli international Yossi Benayoun recommended Pantsil to West Ham United manager Alan Pardew, as the Premier League club were in need of a new Right-Back. Pardew took Pantsil with the rest of the squad on their pre-season tour of Sweden, and featured in the matches out there, putting in some impressive performances. On 1 August 2006, West Ham United announced they had agreed a deal with Pantsil, prior to him receiving a work permit in the United Kingdom. John Pantsil will be given the number 14 shirt at West Ham and will compete for a place in the side with new signing Tyrone Mears.

Contents

[edit] Flag controversy

Following the first and second goals in Ghana's impressive 2-0 victory over the Czech Republic on 17 June 2006, he celebrated by waving an Israeli flag which he kept in his sock. The flag was a cut off a line of flags that was given to the Israeli public free by Bank Hapoalim before Israel's Independence Day celebrations. He was also seen waving the Israeli flag as the final whistle blew. This flag waving was highly protested by several in the Arab world, who saw the act as an insult directed towards the Palestinians. Some Egypt state run newspapers described the player in question as a 'Mossad agent' or that he was paid for this [1] without providing any basis for the allegations. When the Egyptian commentator saw the flag, he stopped his yelling of "Goal" and said, "what are you doing!?!"

Before the final group match versus the USA, the Ghanaian FA had John Pantsil receive psychotherapy treatment because they were worried that with all the media attention he was receiving (both negative and positive) that he would be unable to perform in the squad's most crucial match.

Pantsil, said that he simply wanted to thank the people of Israel for their support. He is even more popular in Israel as a result of his gesture and has promised to explain his actions after the World Cup.[2]

[edit] Name confusion

Upon signing for West Ham, Pantsil claimed that the club had spelt his name wrong, both on his contract and on the back of his shirt. The player insisted that his name was in fact 'Paintsil', not 'Pantsil', although this was placed into further confusion when West Ham confirmed that all of the player's official documentation carries the name 'Pantsil'. As a result, in spite of the player's protests, the name 'Pantsil' appears on the back of his West Ham shirt.

Pantsil (with name spelled "Paintsil" on his shirt) with the Israeli flag.
Enlarge
Pantsil (with name spelled "Paintsil" on his shirt) with the Israeli flag.

[edit] Honors and awards

[edit] External links

Ghana Ghana squad - 2006 FIFA World Cup Ghana

1 Adjei | 2 Sarpei | 3 Gyan | 4 Kuffour | 5 Mensah | 6 Pappoe | 7 Shilla | 8 Essien | 9 Boateng | 10 Appiah | 11 Muntari | 12 Tachie‑Mensah | 13 Mohamed | 14 Amoah | 15 Pantsil | 16 Owu | 17 Quaye | 18 E. Addo | 19 Pimpong | 20 O. Addo | 21 Issah | 22 Kingston | 23 Dramani | Coach: Dujković
West Ham United F.C. - Current Squad

1 Carroll | 2 Mears | 3 Konchesky | 4 Gabbidon | 5 Ferdinand | 6 McCartney | 7 Dailly | 8 Sheringham | 9 Ashton | 10 Harewood | 11 Etherington | 12 Cole | 14 Pantsil | 15 Benayoun | 16 Mascherano | 17 Mullins | 18 Spector | 19 Collins | 20 Reo-Coker | 21 Green | 23 Walker | 24 Noble | 25 Zamora | 26 Newton | 29 Bowyer | 30 Tomkins | 31 Stokes | 32 Tévez | Manager: Curbishley
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org../../../j/o/h/John_Pantsil_dabe.html"