Marchisio Boateng
A Twitter rant from yesterday about Ghanaian Chelsea fans is making a lot of waves on the ‘bird app’ with senior Ghanaian sports journalist, Michael Oti Adjei joining the frame.
Popular opinionist, Archipalago in a tweet said that he thinks there was no Ghanaian who was a supporter of English Premier League side, Chelsea until Ghanaian midfielder, Michael Essien joined the London club from Ligue 1 in 2005.
No Ghanaian was a Chelsea Supporter until 2005 when Essien joined the Blues from Lyon but now they act as if they own the Club!!!
— Palago Mufasa (Young OG) (@archipalagodb) July 13, 2020
Many have disagreed with his assertion with some claiming there is no shame in supporting a club because of a player you liked joining the club.
Others who disagreed with his opinion also shared their memories of what made them fall in love with the EPL club.
I started supporting Chelsea even before Essien, started liking the team because at some point when you turn on PS1 the commercial on it was a goal will Duff assisted by Makelele
— Kwadwo Boateng Jr (@xstrons) July 13, 2020
Sports Journo, Oti Adjei who disagreed with Archipalago said the assertion was one of the biggest lies about why there are so many Ghanaians supporting the South London club. He admitted that midfielder Essien’s arrival at Chelsea increase the interest of the club by Ghanaians but the club had signed players like Desailly, Zola, Ruud Gullit and Gianluca Vialli. All these players had character and can equally convince fans to fall in love with the club.
One of the biggest lies about the relationship of Ghanaians to Chelsea. Essien scaled it up this is a team that signed Vialli, Gullit, Desailly, Zola. Players with character who attracted many before Essien arrived. https://t.co/wJBjimTA1i
— Michael Oti Adjei (@OtiAdjei) July 14, 2020
Other angry Chelsea fans who failed to agree with Archipalago also gave their opinions in the comments.
No one cares about when a person starts showing thier support for a football club or whatsoever,all that matters is showing your support irrespective of the time frame,besides if sports and it’s gotta be enjoyed when its due
— KaY Bee 🇬🇭 🦁 🇬🇧 (@Tikinii1) July 14, 2020
Just like some Ghanaians born and grew up in Ghana specifically KUMASI and moved to US after 30yrs but now they want to claim US as home. That's what it is.
— PoPpErS (@ibirim_ouro) July 14, 2020
If so kraa 3nti de3n…we started supporting and the team has been more successful with trophies than any club in England. Allow us later day saints to enjoy
— Babangida (@Midas_Babs) July 14, 2020
Chelsea won SuperCup against Real Madrid in 1998, tell me how they managed to play in that if they didn't win European Final. Who was born with a particular team's flag in their hand…Nkwasia lie sei
— Wcfr3m Kweysi Swat (@kweysi_swat) July 14, 2020
Most of these guys think the appetite for foreign leagues started with Supersport. Generational difference. Gullit, Vialli, Zola were calcio stars so their move brought fans in Ghana to follow. Essien amplieifed it. But we were watching EPL when Essien was playing at U17.
— douglas quartey (@laxquart) July 14, 2020
