Joseph Paintsil Nominated for Big Award in Belgium : Black Stars winger Joseph Paintsil has been nominated for the prestigious Ebony Shoe Award in Belgium following his impressive performance in the Belgian Pro League.
The award is given annually to the best African or African-origin player in the Belgian League will be determined by votes from coaches of league clubs, the Belgium national team manager, sports journalists, and one or more honorary jurors.
Also Salis Abdul Samed of Lens was nominated for a similar award in the French Ligue 1 this season.
The 25-year-old Paintsil has been in exceptional form for his club, Genk, this season and has caught the attention of football fans and pundits alike. He has been a key figure for title-chasing Genk, contributing 15 league goals and 12 assists.
Overall he has 16 goals and 14 assists in 35 matches this season.
His performances have played a significant role in helping his team finish on top of the log at the end of the regular season and are in contention for the ultimate title as they battle four other teams in the Championship playoff.
Paintsil will face stiff competition from four other nominees for the coveted award including his Genk teammate Mike Tresor Ndayishimiye, Morrocan midfielder Bilal El Khannous, and Nigerian duo Emmanuel Gift Orban and Victor Boniface.
The current holder of the award is Morocco’s Tarik Tissoudali who beat off competition from Paul Onuachu a former teammate of Joseph Paintsil.
The only Ghanaian to have ever won the award is former Black Stars defender Eric Addo who was crowned in 1998.
As of 2020, Mbark Boussoufa (3 wins), Daniel Amokachi (2 wins), Vincent Kompany (2 wins) and Dieumerci Mbokani (2) are the only players to have won the trophy more than once.
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