Last week we found out that former Black Stars defender, John Painstil, had been released by his South African club Maritzburg United– alongside teammate Ashley Hartog
Whilst some newspapers in South Africa reported that they were released after being deemed surplus to requirement, The Citizen Phakaaathi newspaper reported that they were actually released for partying too hard and wrongly influencing the youngsters in the side.
Speaking to Kick Off however, an infuriated Painstil denied the accusations being levelled at him. He told the publication the news has dented his image, and threatened to sue unless the paper retracted the story.
“What they wrote, they must go back and rip it up. If not I’m going to sue them.” He said.
“The club has confirmed that they have never spoken to them about me and misconduct, of having parties for the kids and not letting them sleep and Ashley Hartog … all that.
“I’m professional player and I respect myself and I don’t do that. I’m here to help the young ones to achieve what I have achieved.” He added.
Painstil and Hartog were released six months before their respective contracts were supposed to end, and the newspaper reported the reason was for indiscipline. The claimed a source close to the club informed them of the bad influence the two were having on other players.
“The team was concerned about their conduct. They are the ones that organised the parties and would invite the youngsters to stay late into the night. It is suspected that when Mondli (Cele) died recently, he had been out partying with them” the source was reported to have said.
But it seems Panstil is worried as that impacts his reputation, and might hinder his search for a new club.

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