John Mensah, the former captain of Ghana’s national football team, the Black Stars, has revealed his commitment to evangelism and church activities following his retirement from professional football. Since hanging up his boots, Mensah has dedicated most of his time to serving God and his community.
Mensah, who had a distinguished career with the Black Stars, represented Ghana in multiple Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) and FIFA World Cup tournaments. He earned 83 caps for his country after making his international debut in 2001 against Algeria. Although he has remained out of the media spotlight since retiring in 2017, he recently made an appearance at the Ghana Football Awards.
Speaking about his post-retirement life, the 41-year-old former Lyon defender shared that he has immersed himself in church activities. “I’m just keeping myself in the church all the time. Since I’m no longer on the field, that’s how I’m keeping myself cool,” Mensah said, according to Joy Sports. “My church is the Resurrection Power New Generation Church. I’m just worshiping there. But I keep my faith in God Almighty to worship Him well, advise my people, and do evangelism to help others know God very well.”
Mensah was a key player in the golden generation of Ghanaian footballers who qualified for the World Cup in 2006 and 2010. He also represented Ghana at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Greece, as part of the Black Meteors team. A stalwart of the national team for over a decade, Mensah starred at the 2001 U-20 FIFA World Cup, where the Black Satellites finished as runners-up to Argentina. He succeeded Stephen Appiah as the captain of the Black Stars after the 2010 World Cup.
In addition to his international career, Mensah enjoyed a successful club career, playing in Italy, England, France, Sweden, Slovakia, and Switzerland. He had a brief stint in the Ghana Premier League in 2013 with Kumasi-based Asante Kotoko. Widely regarded as one of Ghana’s best defenders ever, Mensah was named Ghana Player of the Year in 2006.
Now, Mensah is channeling the discipline and leadership skills he honed on the pitch into his spiritual journey, aiming to inspire and uplift others through his faith.