Midfield dynamo Michael Essien, buoyed by his magnificent exploits at Chelsea has been able to woo many Ghanaians football fans to support the blue and white shirted men from Stamford Bridge in London. Indeed, most Ghanaians would have wished Essien had arrived in the country for this weekend’s assignment with the Black Stars on a happier note and not immediately after Chelsea’s defeat to Tottenham Hotspurs in the English Premiership.

But the good news is that the versatile midfielder has assured the nation that the Tottenham defeat has had no adverse effect on his temperament for this crucial World Cup clash against Benin at the Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi on Sunday March 29.

Much as you don’t want to create the impression that Essien is indispensable to the Black Stars, it is obvious that his absence creates a yawning vacuum that is extremely difficult to fill. His colleagues in both the Black Stars and Chelsea would attest to this fact. And it is his return to the team after that long break that has given coach Rajevac the confidence of a bright start in this second group stage where the five group winners will go to the 2010 World Cup finals in South Africa and the top three in each group to the 2010 African Cup of Nations in Angola.

Mali and Sudan are the other contestants in Ghana’s group and Rajevac believes a whirlwind start will give the Black Stars the impetus to carry on the battle and eventually top the group. He wants maximum crowd support from the stands and he is sure to receive a warm reception from the usually affable Kumasi crowd that would like to see Ghana qualify once more for the big stage in world football.

As a result of injuries, there would definitely be some new faces in the line up. John Mensah, Laryea Kingston, Agogo, Dramani and Quincy Owusu Abeyie will all be absent but the return of Asamoah Gyan, a star in the 2006 World Cup in Germany should sharpen Ghana’s striking power featuring Prince Tagoe(Al Ittifad,Saudi Arabia), Matthew Amoah (NAC Breda,Holland) and newcomer Samuel Yeboah who is plying his trade in Israel.

Essien will spearhead the midfield to be selected from Anthony Annan (Rosenberg, Norway), Stephen Appiah, Sulley Muntari (Inter, Italy) Kwadwo Asamoah (Udinese, Italy), Rahim Ayew (Sekondi Eleven Wise) and Mousses Narry (Auxerre, France).

Rajevac will pick his defenders from John Paintsil(Fulham), Nana Kwesi Asare(Mechelen,Belgium),Harrison Afful(Asante Kotoko), Jonathan Quartey(Kaiser Chiefs),Isaac Vorsah(Hoffeheim,Germany), Eric Addo(Roda, Holland)and Samuel Inkoom (Asante Kotoko). The goalies are Richard Kingston (Wigan) and Philemon Quartey (Accra Hearts of Oak). This is quite a healthy blend of the new and the old.

The stage is set for an interesting international match with a lot at stake and it is hoped that supporters of Asante Kotoko who always dominate the Kumasi crowd will forget quickly their pet team’s rather unstable performances of late and throng the Baba Yara Stadium to give the match the splendour and attention it deserves.

I will be there, God willing. Cheers everybody and keep loving sports.