International sports

Why a renowned Kenyan sports journalist named his son after Michael Essien

Ghanaian football legend, Michael Essien is rated as one of the great African footballers who drove up the craze and popularity of European football on the continent.

Some football fans argue that Michael Essien’s status as the finest box-to-box midfielder from the continent is without question and that he deserves to be ranked among the best midfielders Africa has produced.

Essien became a household name when he joined Chelsea in 2006 from Olympique Lyon. Although he was exceptional at Lyon, his time at Chelsea earned him global recognition.

Within that period, Essien made the podium for the African Footballer of the Year award five consecutive seasons, with one second-place finish and four third-place finishes.

As a result, he became the favourite of many African football fans including renowned Kenyan sports journalist, Collins Okinyo.

In 2017, Okinyo revealed that he named his son after Michael Essien who happens to be his favourite African Footballer of all time.

He explained that the decision to name his son after the former Black Stars and Chelsea star was out of admiration for Essien’s ‘immense qualities’.

“Michael Essien is my favourite African footballer of all time and the decision to name my son after him is because of my admiration for his immense qualities,” herosportsgh reported

The name Essien is a Ghanaian name which is common among the Akan clan, especially the Fantes.

Okinyo’s son, Prince John Essien, is a 13-year-old footballer who plays as a midfielder.

 

Source: www.ghanaweb.com

Ogyem Solomon

Solomon Ogyem – Media Entrepreneur | Journalist | Brand Ambassador Solomon Ogyem is a dynamic Ghanaian journalist and media entrepreneur currently based in South Africa. With a solid foundation in journalism, Solomon is a graduate of the OTEC School of Journalism and Communication Studies in Ghana and Oxbridge Academy in South Africa. He began his career as a reporter at OTEC 102.9 MHz in Kumasi, where he honed his skills in news reporting, community storytelling, and radio broadcasting. His passion for storytelling and dedication to the media industry led him to establish Press MltiMedia Company in South Africa—a growing platform committed to authentic African narratives and multimedia journalism. Solomon is the founder and owner of Thepressradio.com, a news portal focused on delivering credible, timely, and engaging stories across Ghana and Africa. He also owns Press Global Tickets, a service-driven venture in the travel and logistics space, providing reliable ticketing services. He previously owned two notable websites—Ghanaweb.mobi and ShowbizAfrica.net—both of which contributed to entertainment and socio-political discussions within Ghana’s digital space. With a diverse background in media, digital journalism, and business, Solomon Ogyem is dedicated to telling impactful African stories, empowering youth through media, and building cross-continental media partnerships.

Related Articles

Back to top button