Michael Essien
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28th May, 2010
ESSIEN OUT...of 2010 World Cup
Morale in the camp of the senior national football team, the Black Stars, is reported to be at its lowest ebb following the shattering news that Michael Essien, undoubtedly a vital member of the squad, has been ruled out of the World Cup after failing a fitness test conducted yesterday.
The atmosphere ahead of yesterday’s crisis meeting has been that of optimism, but the news appears to have dampened the spirit of the team and put head coach, Milovan Rajevac, in a very difficult situation, especially when the state of Emmanuel Agyeman Badu, the combative midfielder expected to occupy Essien’s position, remains unclear.
The sad news filtered in yesterday from France, after an evaluation by a combined team of medical experts from the Ghana Football Association (GFA) and Chelsea Football Club revealed that the Chelsea midfielder will not be fit for the global soccer fiesta to be held on African soil for the first time.
The player, according to the combined team of medical experts, will make full recovery by the end of July, and it is believed to be in the best interest of the two sides and the future of the player as well.
Essien picked up the injury in January, when he featured for the Black Stars in the Africa Cup of Nations held in Angola and was initially ruled out for six weeks but the injury was said to have developed some complications culminating in a four-month lay-off.
It would have been his second successive World Cup appearance after marshalling the Stars’ midfield at Ghana’s debut in Germany.
With the latest development, Rajevac will be expected to drop five players from the present 29 in their Paris camp on June 1, before they open their campaign on June 13 with a crunch clash against Serbia.
Essien’s absence, no doubt, will deal a big blow to the team’s fortunes but soccer analysts back home think otherwise.
Speaking on Citi FM’s Eye-Witness news yesterday moments after the news broke out: the analysts admitted that the experience of the ‘Bison’ will be sorely missed but expressed the view that there are equally brilliant players in the team that can perfectly replace him.
Augustine Arhinful, a former player of the Black Stars, said Essien’s inclusion would have been a big plus for the team but his absence will not take the shine away from the team.
In his view, what matters now is the coach’s ability to map out an effective strategy around the players in camp.
Nana Agyemang, a Europe-licensed coach, believes the news, though not the best, came at the right time and will give Rajevac ample time to do a proper assessment of players to constitute his 23-man squad.
Coach Isaac ‘Opeele’ Boateng, a former technical head of Kumasi Asante Kotoko, was of the view that there is no cause for panic, looking at the talent at the disposal of the coach ahead of his June 1 deadline.
In players like Samuel Inkoom, Sulley Muntari, Kwadwo Asamoah, Kevin Prince Boateng, Anthony Annan and Andre Dede Ayew, Opeele believes Rajevac has quality and competent players to hold high the flag of Ghana.
In his view, Ghana is on the verge of making history again with this development and he asked fans to support the team.
Essien’s father, James Essien, was also disturbed on hearing the news of his son’s inability to make it to the final 23-man squad, but insists that cannot be the end for the Black Stars.
He said he feels sad and worried over the development “because it sounds like my prayers have not been answered.”
“I have been praying for him to get healed quickly and play for the team but what has come out is most unfortunate,” he said.
The atmosphere ahead of yesterday’s crisis meeting has been that of optimism, but the news appears to have dampened the spirit of the team and put head coach, Milovan Rajevac, in a very difficult situation, especially when the state of Emmanuel Agyeman Badu, the combative midfielder expected to occupy Essien’s position, remains unclear.
The sad news filtered in yesterday from France, after an evaluation by a combined team of medical experts from the Ghana Football Association (GFA) and Chelsea Football Club revealed that the Chelsea midfielder will not be fit for the global soccer fiesta to be held on African soil for the first time.
The player, according to the combined team of medical experts, will make full recovery by the end of July, and it is believed to be in the best interest of the two sides and the future of the player as well.
Essien picked up the injury in January, when he featured for the Black Stars in the Africa Cup of Nations held in Angola and was initially ruled out for six weeks but the injury was said to have developed some complications culminating in a four-month lay-off.
It would have been his second successive World Cup appearance after marshalling the Stars’ midfield at Ghana’s debut in Germany.
With the latest development, Rajevac will be expected to drop five players from the present 29 in their Paris camp on June 1, before they open their campaign on June 13 with a crunch clash against Serbia.
Essien’s absence, no doubt, will deal a big blow to the team’s fortunes but soccer analysts back home think otherwise.
Speaking on Citi FM’s Eye-Witness news yesterday moments after the news broke out: the analysts admitted that the experience of the ‘Bison’ will be sorely missed but expressed the view that there are equally brilliant players in the team that can perfectly replace him.
Augustine Arhinful, a former player of the Black Stars, said Essien’s inclusion would have been a big plus for the team but his absence will not take the shine away from the team.
In his view, what matters now is the coach’s ability to map out an effective strategy around the players in camp.
Nana Agyemang, a Europe-licensed coach, believes the news, though not the best, came at the right time and will give Rajevac ample time to do a proper assessment of players to constitute his 23-man squad.
Coach Isaac ‘Opeele’ Boateng, a former technical head of Kumasi Asante Kotoko, was of the view that there is no cause for panic, looking at the talent at the disposal of the coach ahead of his June 1 deadline.
In players like Samuel Inkoom, Sulley Muntari, Kwadwo Asamoah, Kevin Prince Boateng, Anthony Annan and Andre Dede Ayew, Opeele believes Rajevac has quality and competent players to hold high the flag of Ghana.
In his view, Ghana is on the verge of making history again with this development and he asked fans to support the team.
Essien’s father, James Essien, was also disturbed on hearing the news of his son’s inability to make it to the final 23-man squad, but insists that cannot be the end for the Black Stars.
He said he feels sad and worried over the development “because it sounds like my prayers have not been answered.”
“I have been praying for him to get healed quickly and play for the team but what has come out is most unfortunate,” he said.
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