Ex-Ghana defender John Painstil reveals player who made Milovan Rajevac successful in his first spell

• John Painstil has opened up on how coach of the Black Stars Milovan Rajevac became successful in his first stint in with Ghana
• The former Ghana right back was part of the Black Stars team that reached the final of AFCON 2010 and the quarter finals of the World Cup
• Painstil reveals midfielder Anthony Annan was key to Milovan Rajevac's success during that spell

A member of Ghana's team that reached the finals of the 2010 AFCON and the quarter finals of the 2010 World Cup, John Painstil, has revealed why Milovan Rajevac was successful in his first stint in charge of the Black Stars.

The Serbian trainer is under pressure to replicate that success, after a defeat and a loss at the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations, currently on going in Cameroon.

According to John Painstil, Milovan Rajevac's outstanding 2010 team was built on the influential role played by petite midfielder Anthony Annan.

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"When Milo came, he made it clear he wanted to use more youngsters and blend it with experience and that was what he did so he always wanted his defence to be more experienced and going forward has more youth up front and have another experience on top, which he did, he had Asamoah Gyan," he told Joy FM.

"Annan's impact was great because he is the player that makes defenders rest, he was important and I think we can not underrate his time when he used to play for the national team," he added.

Anthony Annan was pivotal in Rajevac's team and since leaving the scene, Ghana has struggled to replace him, with several players coming in and out of the team.

These 35-year-old played 67 times for the Black Stars, scoring two goals. These days he plays in Finland for FC Inter Turku.

Former Ghana player Laryea Kingston insists Black Stars miss Asamoah Gyan

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Earlier, SportsBrief.com reported that, former Ghana international, Laryea Kingston says the Black Stars misses legendary forward Asamoah Gyan at the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations.

The Black Stars lost their opening group C game against Morocco on Monday, after missing several goal scoring opportunities, only to concede seven minutes from time.

Laryea Kingston, a pundit on TV for the competition, in one of his submissions on Metro TV admitted the four times Africa champions miss the goal poaching instincts of Gyan.