By Bernard Asubonteng

News reports indicate that Michael Essien, Ghana and Chelsea midfield star apparently isn’t happy that his buddy Sulley Muntari has been dropped from the Black Stars’ squad for the upcoming Nations’ Cup slated for Angola in January 2010. According to the reports, Essien has not only made his objection known verbally, but also he has sent a letter protesting Muntari’s saga. At the time of putting this piece together, I have still not ascertained the veracity of the news accounts attributed to Essien’s vehement objection(s).

Whether Essien’s story is true or not, let’s start our conversation from this basic premise: that every human being, including Essien has an inalienable right to question, criticize, disagree or object to any decision or ruling he or she deems to be inappropriate or arbitrary. From this prism, Essien and I see things almost the same way; I mean the fact that we all have the right to criticize or question authority in any given situation in a civilized society. But beyond that we depart on substance relating to the Chelsea star’s defense of his friend’s exclusion from the Angola-bound team.

As I stated, I can’t verify the authenticity of Essien’s letter of objection sent to the Ghana FA, neither can I say for sure this incident is the first time Muntari has had disciplinary escapades with the football authorities in Ghana. However, assuming all the media accounts that Muntari has a host of past disciplinary issues were verifiable, then Essien’s argument in defense of his colleague is as hollow as an empty barrel.

“Sulley doesn’t bring indiscipline to the pitch, he brings experience, value and results to our team and it is imperative we have him in the team if we are to excel at the next games,” the Chelsea midfield dynamo is reported to have written to GFA. This is laughable in its urban familiarity. And it goes to underscore how some of these Ghanaians as well as many other African players don’t it when it comes to discipline! I know many people would take issue with this statement, but the fact still remains that disciplined and experienced footballer are not mutually exclusive. It’s a no-brainer.

So, when someone I admire so much as Essien, is quoted as saying “We are in one of the toughest groups this January and it is very important we go with all our experienced and valuable players to win the Cup and prepare us for the World Cup,” I think he was offering pragmatic suggestion except that he left one very important ingredient that makes a team a potent force to reckon with: SELF-DISCIPLINE! In one of my recent articles to this forum, I argued that one of the major reasons underpinning Brazil’s success in soccer stemmed from discipline of her players. No matter what, a Brazilian player will not tell his national coach he is too busy to meet with him. It’s a big, big deal for a player to feature for the national team in Brazil. To cut everything short, in Brazil, they deify the national team, period! Indeed, I find it hard to understand how someone can claim to be a world-class this or that without self-discipline across the board. In fact discipline, be it strong work ethics or personal manners, forms an integral part of every human endeavor. Discipline takes people to higher places. Most of us living in the white man’s land know that if you’re not discipline at your workplace you won’t get your job the next day. That is a fact. It’s puzzling to me that many of us go and settle in the Western countries, follow the rules and regulations there, disciplined in our attitudes, work our hearts out, and help develop those places, but when it comes our own motherland—Africa—many of us start showing lackadaisical attitudes. Is it any wonder therefore that with all these resources and talents spread across the continent our part of the world is still struggling to catch up?

Imagine the Inter Milan Coach Jose Mourinho wanting to meet Muntari to discuss issues pertaining to his commitments to the club and the latter says he is too busy to attend such a meeting? What do you think will happen in that scenario? I bet you your guess would be as good as mine. Many a time I watch how extra committed, including the serious looks on the faces African players when they’re playing for their various European teams, however, I can’t say if many of them show the same enthusiasm when they’re called to feature for their respective national teams. This is far from implying that these players are unpatriotic and arrogant. I think they all love their countries. The issue is on their commitments level and the fact that many of them tend to take Africa for granted.

No one is perfect. We live in an imperfect world; and, we are all susceptible to human foibles as we embark on our day-to-day activities. In the same vein, we make choices good or bad and we’ve to deal with them. Instead of showing true contrition and remorsefulness, many of us try to defend the indefensible with some red-herring arguments and other emotional outbursts. Sulley may be more experienced and a valuable footballer, I don’t doubt that, but he is not indispensable. Indeed, no one so indispensable that Ghana as a nation will reach a dead end road without that person. A player comes and a player goes, but Ghana, the great, still lives on! Where is Baba Yara, Mfum, Abedi, Tony Yeboah and other great Ghanaian footballers? We still have the Black Stars, right?

Ghana has come a long way in her soccer development. Let’s set some high standards and stick with them rather than talking about how valuable one particular player is in the event of that person facing disciplinary actions. From the scheme of things, perhaps the guy wouldn’t have apologized if GFA hadn’t taken those measures against him. Any experienced and disciplined player of Sulley’s caliber would have realized the seriousness and the magnitude of his incipient behavior, acted nimbly to defuse everything before it escalated to this point. If Muntari is that “experienced” as Essien argues, the former would have done the same thing as he, Essien and Asamoah Gyan did by quickly offering their apologies, including their promise to pay a fine to GFA. I guess brother Muntari thinks he is so “valuable” a player that without him we can’t win the Nations’ Cup and “prepare us for the World Cup,” as Essien opined.

There may not be a precedent in Ghana’s soccer history vis-à-vis Muntari’s deal, but from my perspective, this is the first time GFA has done something more moral, sensible, commendable, and in a no-nonsense fashion. I don’t really care for this GFA, because many times the officials behave as if they don’t know what they’re up to. This time around, they hit the nail right on its head! I hope GFA doesn’t show some cracks in her façade of determination under the weight of public pressure. If Ghana soccer is to reach the level that all of us would be very proud of, then it’s about time we put in place an enduring disciplinary structure. Ghana would still prepare and go to Angola and South Africa in case Muntari has been injured? So what is the big deal?

Now back to Essien’s contention, I really like his style of play; I didn’t know a lot about Chelsea till I found out that a Ghanaian called Michael Essien is a star in that English soccer giants team. I don’t miss Chelsea games because of Essien; he is indeed a midfield powerhouse. Aside all these, let’s face it: what is improper is improper. Sulley Muntari should have handled the issue better than this. I can understand Essien is supporting a friend in his trying times. However, distinction ought to be drawn between moral support and defending a disrespectful demeanor. GFA’s actions toward Muntari should serve as a walk-up call to all up and coming Ghanaian footballers!

Bernard Asubonteng Communication and media analyst, is based in Atlanta, GA. Contact: bernard.asubonteng@yahoo.com