Godwin Antwi

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Godwin Antwi
Image:Antwi, Godwin.jpg
Personal information
Full name Godwin Antwi Birago
Date of birth 7 June 1988 (1988-06-07) (age 20)
Place of birth    Kumasi, Ghana
Height 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Playing position Centre back
Club information
Current club Liverpool
Youth clubs
 ?–2004
2004–2005
2005–2006
Asante Kotoko
Real Zaragoza
Liverpool
Senior clubs1
Years Club App (Gls)*
2006–
2007
2007–2008
Liverpool
Accrington Stanley (loan)
Hartlepool United (loan)
00 (0)
09 (0)
27 (1)   
National team2
Spain U19 0 0 (0)

1 Senior club appearances and goals
counted for the domestic league only and
correct as of 18 May 2008 (GMT).
2 National team caps and goals correct
as of 16 December 2006.
* Appearances (Goals)

Godwin Antwi Birago (born 7 June 1988) is Ghanaian-Spanish professional footballer who plays for Liverpool. Antwi can play at either centre-back or central midfield. He is also related to UK grime star Lethal Bizzle[citation needed]. Antwi is the first player from Ghana to represent Liverpool.

Contents

[edit] Biography

Antwi was born in Kumasi, Ghana. When he was 14 years old, he moved to Spain and lived there for three years.[1] He initially played street soccer, before he entered the youth setup of Spanish club Real Zaragoza for 1 year. He eventually obtained a Spanish passport.[2]

At 17 years of age, he was spotted by Paco Herrera, then head scout of Liverpool.[3] He watched Liverpool beat Chelsea home at Anfield in the semi-final of the 2005 UEFA Champions League. The experience of hearing the Anfield crowd left a great impression on him, and he expressed a desire to reach the status of former African Liverpool player, Guinean international striker Titi Camara.[3] He joined Liverpool, who had newly been crowned the UEFA Champions League winners, when Liverpool manager Rafael Benítez offered him a contract in August 2005.

He started his Liverpool career, playing in the reserve team during the 2005-06 season. Due to a striker shortage, he initially played up front. In his usual defending position, he helped Liverpool win the 2006 FA Youth Cup, beating Manchester City in the final.

On 8 November 2006, Antwi was called up by the Under-19 Youth setup of the Spanish national team to train with them.[4][5] The call-up was possible due to his Spanish passport. Despite the Spanish Under-19 call-up[1], Antwi can freely choose which country to represent at a senior level, before he turns 21 years old.[2]

On 10 January 2007, Antwi was named captain of the Liverpool Reserves, for the first time and the 18-year-old led by example at the back against the experienced Neil Shipperley of Sheffield United.[6] On March 13, it was announced that he had joined Accrington Stanley on a month's loan.[7] He remained at Stanley until the end of the season.

Antwi joined Hartlepool United on a season-long loan for the 2007-08 season on 29 June 2007. He scored his first goal for Hartlepool against Doncaster on 18 August 2007.[8]

[edit] References

  1. ^ (Spanish) "Un español de Ghana", elpais.com, 2006-11-13. Retrieved on 2006-11-13. 
  2. ^ a b "Spain "Steals" Godwin Antwi", ghanaweb.com, 2006-11-30. Retrieved on 2006-11-30. 
  3. ^ a b "NEW BOY GODWIN LOVES THE ANFIELD ROAR", www.liverpoolfc.tv, 2005-08-24. Retrieved on 2005-08-24. 
  4. ^ (Spanish) "La nueva perla negra del Liverpool es un hispanoganés", labolsa.com, 2006-11-16. Retrieved on 2006-11-16. 
  5. ^ (Spanish) "LA SELECCIÓN ESPAÑOLA INTEGRA", as.com, 2006-11-13. Retrieved on 2006-11-13. 
  6. ^ "LINDFIELD EARNS RESERVES VICTORY", Liverpool.tv, 2007-01-10. Retrieved on 2007-01-10. 
  7. ^ Antwi Joins Stanley on Loan. liverpoolfc.tv (2007-03-12). Retrieved on 2007-03-12.
  8. ^ "Hartlepool Loan Liverpool Defender", Vital Hartlepool, 2007-06-29. Retrieved on 2007-06-29. 

[edit] Career honours

[edit] External links