Former Ghanaian football star John Paintsil recently shared a compelling personal story of resilience, shedding light on the challenges he overcame to achieve success in his football career.

Paintsil revealed that before attaining fame and wealth, he faced hardships that almost led him to abandon his football aspirations.

One particularly memorable experience occurred when he received a call-up to the national under-20 team and had to travel to Accra for a trial exercise.

Despite his limited knowledge of Ghana's capital city, Paintsil embarked on the journey carrying only a bag filled with gari (a staple food in West Africa), football boots, and a jersey.

On arrival in Accra, he struggled to locate his relative's residence.

“I knew no one in Accra and only heard about Accra New Town.

I had only one destination in my bag when I picked up my bag, and that was Accra New Town.

When I got to Circle, I made enquiries and was shown the place," Paintsil shared in an interview with Angel TV.

Facing uncertainty, Paintsil decided to make a lotto kiosk his temporary abode until he found his sister's house in New Town.

Over the next two weeks, he jogged to and from New Town and the Accra Sports Stadium, sustaining himself on gari without sugar.

"When the final list came and I made the list, I couldn’t hold back my tears. I wasn’t bathing because I couldn’t. If I wasn’t determined and had no plan, I would have given up.

There were times I wanted to give up, but I thought of my dreams and decided to press on," Paintsil revealed.

Despite these early challenges, Paintsil went on to enjoy a successful football career, participating in two World Cup tournaments for Ghana, featuring in AFCON tournaments, including the 2008 and 2012 editions, and playing for clubs such as Fulham, Leicester, and West Ham.

His inspirational journey serves as a testament to the power of determination and perseverance in achieving one's dreams.