Michael Essien is former Chelsea Black Stars player
Ghanaian singer and songwriter King Promise has hailed former Chelsea star Michael Essien as Ghanaian royalty, considering his difficult beginnings and rise to global status in his football career.
Essien began his football career with Liberty Professionals before departing Ghana for greener pastures, where he joined Bastia in France in 2003.
He quickly established himself as a key member of the team and earned a significant move to fellow French club Lyon before joining Chelsea in 2005 for the then-record African transfer fee.
The former Black Stars midfielder, who currently serves as an assistant coach to Danish outfit FC Nordsjaelland, left an indelible mark at Chelsea, helping the club to annex the UEFA Champions League title and several domestic trophies.
While at Stamford Bridge creating content for the launch of his upcoming song Bad Habits featuring Davido, which is set to be released on Friday, 21 November, King Promise hailed Essien as Ghanaian royalty.
“He’s Ghanaian royalty. An inspiration, motivation, from nothing to something, from home to global. Michael Essien means a lot because to make it out of nothing to be on the world stage is something that gives the youth hope. It gives the kids the idea that if he can make it, you can make it.”
Meanwhile, King Promise has likened Essien’s difficult beginnings to achieving stardom to himself.
“That’s what I stand for as well. Where I’m from is in Accra, the capital, but it’s on the other side, and you wouldn’t expect someone like me, coming from there, to make it this far in my career and how my music has travelled across the globe and across continents,” he said.
According to King Promise, he was inspired by the former Real Madrid star to attain greater heights in his music career.
“It’s similar to what Michael Essien did with Chelsea, where he came from the streets of Accra and ended up on the world stage. For me, just having him play for Chelsea made me think if he can do it on the world stage, then I can do it on the world stage as well.”
“He’s a great guy. He was with me at a show I did in Denmark. I got him on stage and he’s a little bit shy; he doesn’t really like the cameras, but he’s an amazing guy.”
