Prince Buaben

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Prince Buaben
Personal information
Full name Prince Buaben Abankwah
Date of birth April 23, 1988 (1988-04-23) (age 20)
Place of birth    Akosombo, Ghana
Height 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Playing position Midfielder
Club information
Current club Dundee United
Number 20
Youth clubs
2002–2004 Zeeburgia
Senior clubs1
Years Club App (Gls)*
2004–2007
2007–		 Ajax Amsterdam
Dundee United		 00 (0)
24 (3)   
National team2
2008– Ghana 1 (0)

1 Senior club appearances and goals
counted for the domestic league only and
correct as of 09:19, 27 March 2008 (UTC).
2 National team caps and goals correct
as of 09:19, 27 March 2008 (UTC).
* Appearances (Goals)

Prince Buaben (born April 23, 1988 in Akosombo) is a Ghanaian footballer who currently plays in midfield for Dundee United in the Scottish Premier League.

Contents

[edit] Career

Buaben was born in Ghana, but his mother took his family to the Netherlands when he was nine, as she thought that they would have a better life there. In Holland where he lived for nine years, his big break came when he was playing for local side A.V.V Zeeburgia against Ajax Amsterdam in a friendly, which they lost 9-1, with Bauben notching his side's solitary strike. "After the game, Danny Blind told my uncle that they had been impressed with me, but nothing happened for a while. Eventually, Ajax called me and I went there for a two-week trial when I was 15."[1]

A player who grew up in the famous Ajax Amsterdam youth system mostly as a striker, the 19-year-old did enough to impress United manager Craig Levein. He did not have the necessary residential status in The Netherlands to obtain the required work visa when a full time contract was offered to him by the Dutch giants. "In Holland, you cannot play professional football without a resident's permit, and I was not due to get mine until the following year. "But, because I did not have a permit, I could not play professionally, and the club had no choice but to let me go," he recalls. He returned to his native Ghana and due to his family’s UK status obtained a valid visa, which led to a recommendation to United manager Craig Levein[2].

Buaben joined the club as a trialist at the start of pre-season training and has impressed the manager sufficiently to be awarded a full time contract. On 20 July 2007, Dundee United signed the Ghanaian on a three-year contract, following a successful trial period at Tannadice. Levein told the club website: "He's a young player and although talented, will need time to develop and adapt. "I see him as one for the future but have high hopes that he may break into the first team earlier than expected."[3]

Buaben made his Dundee United debut in the friendly 2-2 draw against Raith Rovers at Starks Park[4] on Sunday 22 July 2007. Despite being lauded as Levein as "one for the future", Buaben quickly settled into the starting line-up of United after some outstanding performances especially his range of excellent passing, which got rave reviews in match reports[5] The Times Online said "Two of Levein's cheap discoveries, Morgaro Gomis and Prince Buaben, were outstanding for United against Rangers...Both players have brought craft and imagination to the United midfield". [6]

[edit] International career

Buaben received his first call-up to the Ghana national squad in March 2008 for the friendly match against Mexico,[7] although he remained an unused substitute during the match.

[edit] Honours

[edit] Dundee United

2007-08

[edit] References

  1. ^ "Prince Set To Reign", Voice Online UK, 2007-10-20. 
  2. ^ United sign Ghanaian Tralist. Dundee United FC (2007-07-20). Retrieved on 2007-07-20.
  3. ^ "New Prince arrives at Tannadice", BBC Sport website, 2007-07-20. 
  4. ^ Raith Rovers 2 Dundee United 2. Dundee United FC (2007-07-22). Retrieved on 2007-07-22.
  5. ^ "DUNDEE UNITED 1-0 MOTHERWELL", Dundee United FC website, 2007-10-06. 
  6. ^ "Dundee United 2-1 Rangers", Timesonline UK website, 2007-10-29. 
  7. ^ International call-ups for Buaben, Camara, McLean and Kenneth{publisher=Dundee United FC (2008-03-19).

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

v • d • e
Dundee United F.C. – current squad

1 Załuska • 2 Dillon • 4 Wilkie • 5 Dods • 7 Kerr • 8 Grainger • 9 Daly • 10 Hunt • 12 D. Robertson • 15 Conway • 16 Gomis • 17 Cameron • 18 Kenneth • 20 Buaben • 22 De Vries • 23 Swanson • 24 Kovačevič • 26 Goodwillie • 27 Watson • 28 Andreoni • 29 McCord • 30 Russell • 32 Milligan • 50 Smith • – S. Robertson • Manager: Levein


Persondata
NAME Abankwah, Prince Buaben
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Prince Buaben
SHORT DESCRIPTION Footballer
DATE OF BIRTH 23 April 1988
PLACE OF BIRTH Ghana
DATE OF DEATH
PLACE OF DEATH