By Daniel Oduro
I have followed with keen interest, reactions from the fall-out of Michael Essien's temporarily break from the Ghana national team and to say the least, I'm disappointed.
Mr Essien has come under a barrage of criticism and the only reason and argument most people I have listened to or read put forward is that Essien is unpatriotic. Shocking!!!! What is Patriotism?
Essien has never turned his back on the national team contrary or under-performed-a situation faced by other internationals like Samuel Eto'O Fils (Cameroun) and football supernova Lionel Messi (Argentina)-for the Black Stars
The heap of public perception that the Chelsea ace feigned injury to miss the 2006 Africa Cup of Nations and made a 'miraculous' recovery to play in the Englisg Premier League after Ghana's elimination is frivolous and bizzare.
That is laughable to say the least, but I can understand why.
Essien is the poster boy of the Ghana team without a doubt and is best at what he does.
Sentiments and passion take the place of objectivity and common sense when it comes to matters concerning our football.
Sorry if my vocabulary is incendiary but I think in this case it fits like a glove.
I perfectly agree and I know Essien also concurs that he rose to global consciousness after representing Ghana at the 1999 Fifa Under-17 World Cup in New Zealand and the 2001 Fifa Under-20 Championship in Argentina.
It is also a fact that Essien passed for a work permit to play in the English Premier League by gaining the required 75% of international matches with the Black Stars but I dare say Mr Essien has paid his dues even if he decides to permanently hang up his international boots.
Four years ago when soccer fans in Ghana concocted disloyalty charges against him for missing the Nations Cup, this fine shy-looking and soft-spoken gentleman turned up at the World cup in Germany with heart-on-the-sleeves performances.
We all saw the pain on Essien’s face when a second bookable offence against the USA at the World Cup ruled him out of the second round clash with Brazil.
Was that facial expression on Mr Essien that of an unpatriotic son?
It is funny how the absence of the "unpatriotic son" cost Ghana defeat against the Samba Boys-even his worst critics will attest to this.
The bottom line is that, when Essien is fit to play, he plays his heart out and when he is not fit please he's not FIT.
Two years after that Mr Essien virtually led the Black Stars in the absence of injured Stephen Appiah in chase of a fifth Nations cup trophy on home soil.
The Bison was down-hearted when Ghana crashed out in the semis- again I ask if his performance at the tournament confirmed his disloyalty on not?
Essien is not disloyal to Chelsea when he gets injured in national colors but the reverse is the case.
He picked up a hamstring injury during a Champions League against Apoel Nicosia before the turn of this year and after winning his fitness back, he flew to Angola for the AFCON-without playing for Chelsea-and disaster struck.
Obviously Essien wanted to show his undying love and ''unquestionable'' commitment level. To his fierce critics what did he get in return? A knee injury which will rule him out of the remainder of Chelsea’s campaign and the World Cup.
Am certain if Essien had a choice he would have loved to go to the World Cup in national colors than play a part in Chelsea's campaign that season.
Essien even wanted to go to the World Cup half-fit I understand, but was advised not to take that risk.
Essien watched Ghana's games on television-a stage that might have been his but for his country’s unappeasable thirst for blind loyalty that aggravated his injury at the Nations Cup in Angola.
The 27-year-old did not take a holiday and he remained at home in Cobham to put in the hard yards, from 10am until 5pm every day, at the training ground.
Loyalty and for that matter blind loyalty does not pay the bills.
Essien’s bread is buttered by Chelsea but the Club has hardly benefitted from him in the last two seasons.
Essien has played less than thirty games for his employers in the last two season, yet his employers don’t cry about loyalty and have given Essien a two-year contract extension on improved terms.
Even though he had three years to run on his old deal and he had not played since December.
Like Frank Lampard said on Essien's return to full fitness: "Michael is like a new signing at Chelsea" - how sad.
Mr Essien has taken the right decision and I will jump to his defence on any day.
Many in his situation will consider his standpoint I bet. With the benefit of hindsight let sanity and objectivity override emotions.
In any case, what did Stephen Appiah, Laryea Kingson and CK Akunnor get for their perceived loyalty to the national team?
Think about it. If Essien indeed felt neglected by his countrymen during his injury lay-off then the flak must be re-directed.
The FA may need it.
The drudgery of life in rehabilitation might have left others numbed, but Essien is stronger than that and will come good when he decides to return.
Afterall, Zinedine Zidane resigned not 'temporarily'' but DEAD RESIGNED from France. He was never described as either unpatriotic or disloyal.
We all saw what he did when he rescinded his decision to aid their 2006 World Cup campaign.
Good Luck Mr Essien
By Daniel Oduro Sports Journalist Joy FM