By Shaban Barani Alpha
The hullabaloo about whether or not Michael Essien would or not, should or not, and could or not play again for the senior national team, the Black Stars, in the short, medium or long term, is back in the news, ‘after a short commercial break.’
Essien, undoubtedly Ghana’ biggest football export in the last decade or so, has been accused on countless occasions by the media and sections of the press, of being unpatriotic relative to his ‘level of commitment’ to the cause of the national team.
I put level of commitment into single quotes because it is clearly subject to the interpretation of whoever wills and for that matter a given set of circumstances over the period of time.
The trajectory of events relative to level of commitment argument, dates as far back as to one such Nations Cup staged in Mali, during which time Essien, Muntari and Asamoah Gyan, were speculated to have refused to join the Ghana squad that went to the tournament.
Then came issues about his having deliberately feigned injury in order to avoid Ghana’s campaign in Egypt 2006, when Ghana was booted out of the group stage, the only excuse being that after Ghana was booted out, Essien turned up for his club side, Chelsea.
Staunch critics of the central midfield dynamo, nicknamed the ‘bison,’ felt vindicated when Essien announced sometime last year, after the World Cup in South Africa, which he actually missed due to injury, he wanted to go on a ‘temporal retirement.’
Those who called it a ‘scheme’ to quit the Black Stars did, whiles others wanted a clear definition on the meaning of a temporal retirement, asking for specific time for a return amongst other issues.
In the midst of all the bashing on one hand and backing on the other hand that the player was subject to, a minority of people of whom I am very much a part of held the opinion that; “here was a guy who had paid his dues to the sport and with every right to walk away with his head held high up, period!”
It hurts to revisit the very ‘hollow’ (word advisedly used) issues for which people have accused Essien of being unpatriotic, a position as his having ridden on the back of the senior national teams to the current lofty status in football, I find confusing.
The simple reason being that Michael Essien, yes, may have ridden on the national team to where he stands today, but for his colleagues at the time who did not justify their inclusion in the team by hard work and some luck, sure did fall off the wagon.
Without isolating his means of rising to the highest pedestal in football, i.e. playing in the World Cup and as far as the Champions League final, this media shy fante gentleman has had hard work at the hear of his rise, be it gradual and meteoric by any route he got there.
What do the critics have to say on the countless crucial goals Essien has scored and many spirited displays he has exhibited over time, whiles donning the national colours, and of course the injuries he has suffered on national assignment.
Typical cases in point, being his injury in a Nations Cup qualifier against Libya in Tripoli and during Angola 2010 Nations Cup, where he barely played a game. Then, I guess he was committed after sustaining the injury and should have played on a leg, right?
But before anyone asserts that he could have been injured playing for Chelsea, it should tell us all that much as injuries are a part of the game, someone’ injury should not pass as a topic for any informed analysis.
Another shallow reason for the bashing, I gather still within realms of commitment, has to do with his bread being buttered in Europe i.e. being paid big bucks at Chelsea compared to the peanuts given as player bonuses when he turns up for Ghana.
The big deal therein baffles me, because at one moment his commitment is questioned and on the other hand, when he says he wants to stay off, people still have cause to go after him for only God knows what.
If there were ever anyone to worry for Essien relative to his involvement to the national team (that is whether or quit or not to), it MUST be the player himself, who is as yet to lift any trophy with the senior national team, the Black Stars.
In the absence of that, he has himself not helped issues with his and his Public Relations team’s all too shy posturing and refusal to speak to the local media especially, it feeds into public perception by detractors who flog the issues to suit their own ends.
I have said and would continue to say;Essien, should wake up to the reality, if he already has not all this while, that as a public figure, he cedes part of his privacy to the media who would be ready to latch unto news about him, after all personality makes news.
Goran Stevanovic, who I see as the architect of the resurrection of the Essien commitment debate had better wake up to our call that he develops another Essien, which Ghana Football, very noted for its churning out of midfielders has not lacked, would not and could not possibly be lacking.
His competencies, ball sense and appreciation for the game is peerless but as it stands now, no one man can become a team and for that matter is indispensable under any circumstance.
The irrelevance of the debate with respect to his playing or not has never been so poignant, and so whether he returns against DR Congo for which reason he is allowed to play against England or not, I chose to call it; “Mike ado about nothing.”
Players quit international duty all over the world and Essien is no exception, if he wants to walk, open both doors for him to walk through because another like him would walk in right through that same door, anyone doubting that?
Shaban Barani Alphaalfarsenal@yahoo.com/newcguide@gmail.com
