Ghanaian teenager Caleb Yirenkyi has credited former Black Stars midfielder Michael Essien for playing a key role in his football development.
Yirenkyi, who made his senior debut for Ghana in the Unity Cup match against Nigeria in London on Wednesday, currently plays for FC Nordsjælland in Denmark, where Essien serves as part of the club’s technical staff.
In an interview with 3Sports, the 19-year-old expressed admiration for Essien’s influence, both on and off the pitch.
“He [Michael Essien] can coach, impact everyone and anyone. He is very important to us. We learn a lot from him,” Yirenkyi said.
Yirenkyi is one of the latest talents to emerge from the Right to Dream Academy, a Ghanaian football development initiative that has successfully partnered with FC Nordsjælland. The academy has produced top talents such as Mohammed Kudus, Kamaldeen Sulemana, and Ernest Nuamah, all of whom now play in Europe’s elite leagues.
Yirenkyi hopes to secure a starting role in Ghana’s upcoming third-place match against Trinidad and Tobago, scheduled for Saturday at the Gtech Community Stadium in London.
