Ghana defender John Pantsil has returned to action with his Israeli club Hapoel Tel Aviv, ending fears over his football career.
The right-back survived a turbulent period after his participation in the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations with many fearing that his career could come to a pre-mature end.
But his return to action on Tuesday night has firmly rubbished reports in the Ghanaian media that his Israeli club Hapoel Tel Aviv cancelled in contract in the wake of his problems at home.
Pantsil played 15 minutes in Hapoel Tel Aviv’s 2-1 win over Bnei Yehuda as he marked his return from the injuury he suffered at the Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa.
The Ghana international has fully recovered from a hamstring injury he sustained during the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations.
The injury took three weeks to heal properly for the right-back to get into contention for a starting place in the penultimate league fixture.
The experienced right-back now looks set to start on Saturday away to rivals Maccabi Tel Aviv.
The return is a massive boost for Paintsil who faced series of problems after the Africa Cup of Nations culminating in his arrest by the Ghanaian police.
The Israel-based defender was arrested by the Police in Ghana for allegedly assaulting his wife after an argument broke out over allegations that he engaged the services of prostitutes.
The right-back is also alleged to have beaten up a neighbour who tried the separate the fighting couple in their residence in the plush neighbourhood in Accra.
A section of the press in Ghana widely reported that he stabbed his wife but the report emanated from the police spokesman Freeman Tettey who later retracted the stabbing claims.
Some radio stations in Accra reported that he attempted suicide but doctors said he only collapsed at home after suffering of exhaustion and stress.
Few days later a radio station reported that his contract with Hapoel Tel Aviv has been cancelled, a report he vehemently denied.
With his return to action Paintsil will now get his career back on track after the off-the-pitch distractions.
