Richard Kingson

Richard Kingson (born 13 June 1978) is a Ghanaian former professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper. He currently serves as a goalkeeper coach for the Ghana national football team. He is also known by his Turkish name Faruk Gürsoy and sometimes by the surname Kingston, which is the surname he used in his UEFA registration and also the surname of his brother Laryea Kingston. The different spelling of the surnames is due to "irregularity on his identity documents". Even in his native Ghana, he was quoted as "the man who got the 't' off his surname". Known for his speed and powerful saves and ability to rush off his line. Considered as one of the best goalkeepers of all time.

Club career
Kingson left his hometown in 1996 to pursue a career in Turkey, where he represented six different clubs, and became a naturalized citizen, having a Turkish name, Faruk Gürsoy, originating from Faruk Suren and Ergun Gürsoy. His first club in Turkey was Galatasaray SK, whom he signed in December 1996, but did not play a single game there. In the 2004-05 season when he played with Galatasaray SK again, he was suspended from football for six months after a doping test.

After a three-month loan spell at Swedish club Hammarby IF, he caught the attention of other clubs in Europe, including Aalborg Boldspilklub, Maccabi Tel Aviv and Birmingham City, eventually joining the latter. On 28 August 2007, Kingson made his debut for Birmingham in a League Cup third round match against Hereford United. He played once in the Premier League, a 2-0 defeat against Portsmouth FC. At the end of the season, co-owner David Sullivan blamed the club's promotion and relegation on the quality of signings to former manager Steve Bruce'. Kingson marks a "waste of space" Kingson was disappointed and angry at the perceived unfairness of Sullivan's reaction, saying that "An older person, in his position, has to... speak maturely. He has to be a responsible man as a co-owner to speak well and an example for young people "The player's contract, which still had one year to run, was canceled by mutual consent at the end of 2007-08

Kingson linked up with former manager Steve Bruce, when he signed for Wigan Athletic on 12 September 2008. He was given the number 22 shirt, the same number he wears in Ghana. He made his first team debut in the FA Cup third round against Tottenham Hotspur, where his team lost 3–1. He made his first Premier League appearance for the club when he replaced the injured Chris Kirkland after 10 minutes of the away match against West Bromwich Albion on 9 May 2009. He saved a shot from Chris Brunt, but Brunt was able to score from the rebound, and the game ended in a 3-1 defeat. He was released after his contract expired at Wigan at the end of the 2009/10 season. After being released by Wigan Athletic, he signed for the newly promoted Blackpool FC in September 2010. In spring 2014, Kingson moved to Turkish second division club Balıkesirspor. At the end of the season he left the club and joined his former team Great Olympics. He ended his career here in 2015.

International career
Then aged 18, he played in the soccer competition at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta. He played a qualifying match for the 2006 World Cup.

Kingson participated in the 2006 FIFA World Cup with the Ghana team. He was originally third choice for the Ghana team at goalkeeper, but he started the competition as a starter. After very successful matches at the 2006 World Cup, particularly against the Czech Republic, he was described by the BBC as "Africa 's first great goalkeeper". During the 1/8 finals and the Brazil – Ghana match, he made three remarkable saves which earned him the nickname “Olele” by Brazilian supporters. Kingson served as the primary goalkeeper for the Ghana team at the 2006 FIFA World Cup, 2008 Africa Cup of Nations, 2010 Africa Cup of Nations and 2010 FIFA World Cup.

He was selected as the All-Star Team goalkeeper of the tournament at the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations held in Ghana.

In 2008, he scored his team's equalizing goal in the last minute of a friendly match against Tanzania that ended 1-1. 

In 2010, Ghana, which he captained in the African Cup of Nations, reached the final and Kingson was once again selected for the All-Star Team.

Kingson, who played for Ghana in the opening match of the 2010 FIFA World Cup, contributed greatly to his team's progress by conceding only 2 goals in the group matches. He was selected as the Player of the Match in the match against the USA in the next round, which was won 2-1 in extra time. Ghana faced Uruguay in the quarter-finals and was eliminated by losing this match.

Honours
Galatasaray S.K.
 Süper Lig: 1996–97, 1997–98
 Turkish Cup: 2004–05

Ghana
 Africa Cup of Nations runner-up: 2010; third place: 2008; fourth place: 1996

Individual
 Africa Cup of Nations Team of the Tournament: 2008, 2010

References

Other websites

Category:1978 births
Category:Living people
Category:Blackpool F.C. players
Category:Ghanaian footballers
Category:Association football goalkeepers
Category:Sportspeople from Accra
Category:Olympians for Ghana
Category:Footballers at the 1996 Summer Olympics
Category:2006 FIFA World Cup players
Category:2010 FIFA World Cup players