Ghanaians pushed me into early retirement – Richard Kingson

Former Ghana international goalkeeper, Richard ‘Olele’ Kingson has called for a stop to the habit of judging football players based on their ages rather than their performances on the pitch.

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According to the former Blackpool goalie, his early retirement from national team duties was as a result of the frequent backlash from Ghanaians, who only focused on his age.

Kingson, now 39, retired from the Ghana national team after the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations inEquatorial Guinea/Gabon.

And the former Great Olympics No.1, who now serves as the goalkeepers’ trainer of the Black Stars, believes his retirement was sped up by the attitude of Ghanaians.

“It’s like they are now blaming themselves; but I don’t blame them. Sometimes when we [retired players] go and play, some people come and say ‘Richard you are still strong, you can still play for the national team’ but I say no… I’ve stopped,” he told Starr Sports.

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“Ghanaians don’t look at your performance, they only consider where you come from; your age but age is just a number.” 

Kingson made his debut for the Black Stars in 1996 in a career that lasted nearly two decades.