Michael Essien still in pain over Sly Tetteh's death

Published on: 07 October 2011

Ghana midfielder Michael Essien says he is struggling to get over the death of his 'guardian angel' Alhaji Sly Tetteh.

Tetteh, president of Liberty Professionals, discovered and mentored Essien from the age of 14.

The talent-spotter collapsed and died on the pitch while playing football with his friends early last month in Cape-Coast.

Essien played for his club in the Ghana Premier League before transferring him to French side Bastia-his first club in Europe.

The injured Chelsea ace, who is making progress in the treatment room, wrote in his October blog that:

"I was in so much shock that I could not hold back the tears. I sobbed uncontrollably to the extent that the physios called off the session.

"The simplest of things like driving were so difficult; I had to be driven home.

I was confused and just couldn't work out that someone as strong and 'healthy' as Sly will suddenly drop and will not be seen or heard anymore.

"Sly Tetteh didn't just discover me but was also my mentor, father, brother and very close friend.

Essien extolled the qualities of Sly Tetteh and says he is irreplaceable.

"I am not the only one who was discovered by Sly Tetteh-Asamoah Gyan, Sulley Muntari, John Pantsil to name but a few- were all discovered by him," he added.

He nurtured us and taught us how to be footballers as well as men.

"I am struggling to come to terms with the fact that Sly Tetteh will not be here to witness my latest comeback.

"Typically he would have sent me a message of 'welcome back from injury' and would have phoned after my first game to see how I was doing."

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