*AFTER 10 YEARS OF SERVING MOTHER GHANA, JOHN “THE ROCK” MENSAH, TIME TO BOW OUT?*

*By: Adzigodi Dennis Narterh , Managing Editor (Soccerfactsfile Sports paper).*

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There is a time to born and there is a time to die, Ecclesiastes 3:2, a typical Bible verse says it all. So be it in the life of every human being, not excluding football players. For football players, a time to shine and a time to die out will perhaps be the best phrase to depict their life span and that not arguably is the current form of the Black stars dependable defender and substantive skipper John Mensah affectionately called “The Rock of Gibraltar”.

Mensah earned his first cap for the national team at age 19, on December 5, 2001 against Algeria after featuring for the Ghana under 20 team at the 2001 World Youth tournament in Argentina .Born on November 29, 1982 at Obuasi, the 5ft 11 inch tall defender, now 28 years old (a typical African football age) and now not even having enough playing time for his club side Sunderland lacks the form of the nation’s best stopper. But don’t forget consistent injury problems has also worsened and contributed to his current fate.

In his career he has played as centre defender for MBC ( Accra,1999-2000), Bologna (Italy, 2000), Bellinzona (Italy, 2000-2001),Genoa (Italy,2001-2002), Chievo (Italy,2002-2004),Modena (Italy 2004), Cremonese (Italy 2005-2006), Rennes (France 2006-2008), Lyon (France 2009-2010), Sunderland (England 2009-2010) and has always been very impressive.

He also won the Samsung Fair Play Award during the CAN 2008 tournament in Ghana.

Yes, in my own personal opinion Mensah has been one of the best defenders of our time; the best Ghana has ever had in terms of his command and control over the back line. He has also been one of the best deputy skippers Ghana has ever produced taking into consideration the internal wrangling and struggle over the captaincy role which even gets parliamentary intervention those days.

But question and argument in town is as to whether Mensah should follow the good steps taken by Black stars former captain Stephen “Tornado” Appiah and resign gentlemanly before he is sidelined?

I know this discussion will generate a lot of controversies but call me my popular name: ‘Mr. Big mouth’. You see let just call spade a spade and not a big spoon. Opinions they say are like noses each and everyone has one.

Personally this subject will forever remain one of the difficult verdicts I have ever pronounced. But like a lawyer, my column demands a verdict to be passed. John Mensah is still a fine player and I always believe in one philosophy and ideology, that names play a better part in a game of football. So be the name of John Mensah puts fear into strikers when they approach him in defence. His physique, height and command at the back are the best Ghana must have. Ghana will forever remember this great God fearing defender.

But ouch! Age, fatigue, injury and unnecessary raising of hands in protest of referees’ decisions during matches have taken the best out of him these days. Indications are now clear that he is wearing out and must pave way for the much hunger and younger ones like Jonathan Mensah, Isaac Vorsah, Daniel Addo (formerly of King Faisal), Osei Bonsu (Hearts), Lee Addy etc. who are young and ready to do battle for Ghana.

My fear is also that if we continue to use him he might cause us a lot which can also had bad effects on our qualification to the Nations’ Cup and even Brazil 2014 FIFA World Cup, because simply nowadays his excuses and protests at refereeing decisions during matches are just too much. This was evident during the 2010 World Cup in South Africa and current performance during the Nations’ Cup qualification matches and his warming of Sunderland bench this season.

Just imagine the show he put up in the Sunderland-Liverpool clash last Saturday in the Englsih Premiership, committing an unnecessary blunder and a penalty once again letting Luiz Suarez gain victory over three Ghanaians in a match and like in the World Cup Suarez forced Mensah too to have a red card.

My verdict is just simple and short. YES it is a perfect time for our man John Mensah to resign like our former Stars captain Appiah did to save himself from ending his fruitful national career on a sour note or even ending up not been invited to feature for the national team like Eric Addo who kept on deteriorating match after match and now eventually ended up not been invited to play for the national team anymore, something Addo himself could have done to end his national career on a high note.

John “The rock” as I affectionately call him, please this is my verdict and I advise to you, please take it in good faith because they say “Good name is better than riches” and I say “Face saving is better than die trying to be a hero,” *– Dr. Nart.*

God bless Mensah, Long live Ghana Soccer.

· *This article first appeared in the Soccer Factsfile newspaper.*