How Brother's Death Inspired Ghana Legend Michael Essien to Set up Charity

• Chelsea star Michael Essien has revealed his brother's death inspired him to set up a charity in his native Ghana
• According to the Ghana legend, his elder brother passed on while looking for water for the family to live by
• Michael Essien decided to set up his Michael Essien Foundation to promote basic community amenities in his hometown

Former Chelsea and Real Madrid midfielder Michael Essien has disclosed how the death of his brother motivated him to set up a charity in Ghana.

The legendary Ghanaian midfielder announced the launch of his charity foundation in the West African country in 2009.

Essien, who played 59 games for the Black Stars, never even met his brother - but his story evidently influenced his life choices.

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Speaking to the BBC World Service, the ex-AC Milan midfield enforcer explained how his family's tragedy made him think about helping other people.

"Hopefully I can do something to help the village where I grew up," he said.

"It's about 30 minutes outside Accra, where I grew up with my four sisters and my Mum.

"The most important thing for me to set up this foundation was my late brother.

"I never got the chance to meet him before he died but I learned later he died when looking for water for the family to live by.

"So that's why I came up with this foundation to help the communities, develop the amenities and give them opportunities to do something."

Essien established the Michael Essien Foundation (MEF) to create opportunities and hope for the underprivileged in his hometown in Awutu Breku and beyond.

The goal is to promote basic community amenities and opportunity for the various groups through different projects and activities.

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Given that it was his mother who helped him make his first steps in football, it's clear that Essien has a special attachment to his family and his community - as he should.

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Meanwhile, Essien nearly broke down in tears watching his former manager Jose Mourinho open up on their relationship.

Michael Essien and Jose Mourinho worked together at English Premier League side Chelsea, winning several titles.

In a video posted on Twitter, spotted by Sports Brief, Jose Mourinho described his relationship with the Ghanaian as that of a father and a son.

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Sports Brief earlier reported that former Ghana international Michael Essien has been chosen as Chelsea's best defensive midfielder ahead of N'Golo Kante and Claude Makelele.

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Essien was clearly the people's choice in the discussion of who is Chelsea's best ever defensive midfielder with most followers of the club preferring the Ghanaian ahead of Kante and Makelele.

In a post on social media, spotted by Sports Brief, the views of social media users primarily supporters of Chelsea were being solicited on who was Chelsea's best defensive midfielder in the club's history.