I have followed with keen interest reactions from the fall-out of Michael Essien’s announcement that he is taking a break from the national team and I am disappointed at the hullabaloo. Mr. Essien has come under a barrage of criticism and the only reason and argument most people I have listened to or read from put forward is that Essien is unpatriotic. What is Patriotism? They gleefully cite the run up to the 2006 Nations Cup and still accuse Essien of feigning injury just to miss out on the Nations Cup in Egypt. This proof of his disloyalty is bizarre. 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 takes the place of objectivity and common sense when it comes to matters concerning our football. That it was in the shirts of Ghana that Essien rose to fame at the 1999 World Under-17 Championships in New Zealand is unquestionable. It is also a fact that Essien got a work permit to move to Chelsea from Lyon because he had international games with Ghana to show he is worth his place in English football but I dare say Mr. Essien has paid his dues even if he decides to permanently hang his international boots. In 2006 when soccer fans in Ghana concocted disloyalty charges against him when he missed the Nations Cup due to a perceived contrived injury, this fine gentleman turned up at the 2006 World cup to make a statement with his performances showing why he is arguable the best midfielder on the continent. 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? Ghana eventually lost the game against Brazil and most Ghanaian’s believed Essien would have made the difference if he had played. 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. Essien was down hearted when Ghana crushed 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. Last season, after tearing his hamstring against Apoel Nicosia in December, Essien doubled his work rate to be fit for Ghana at the Nations Cup in Angola this year. Obviously Essien wanted to show his undying love and commitment to the national cause and to his doubters and what did he get for that- another 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 year/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 when he wanted to be on the pitch playing thanks to his country’s unappeasable thirst for blind loyalty. He aggravated his injury at the Nations Cup in Angola and that effectively ruled him out of the World Cup. 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. Mr. Essien has taken the right decision and I will jump to his defence 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 layoff 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. Good Luck Mr. Essien By: Daniel Oduro – Joy Sports