Godwin Antwi
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| Godwin Antwi | ||
 |
||
| Personal information | ||
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Godwin Antwi Birago | |
| Date of birth | 7 June 1988 | |
| 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) |
0 (0) 9 (0) 27 (1) |
| National team2 | ||
| Spain U19 | 0 (0) | |
|
1 Senior club appearances and 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.
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[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
- ^ (Spanish) "Un español de Ghana", elpais.com, 2006-11-13. Retrieved on 2006-11-13.
- ^ a b "Spain "Steals" Godwin Antwi", ghanaweb.com, 2006-11-30. Retrieved on 2006-11-30.
- ^ a b "NEW BOY GODWIN LOVES THE ANFIELD ROAR", www.liverpoolfc.tv, 2005-08-24. Retrieved on 2005-08-24.
- ^ (Spanish) "La nueva perla negra del Liverpool es un hispanoganés", labolsa.com, 2006-11-16. Retrieved on 2006-11-16.
- ^ (Spanish) "LA SELECCIÓN ESPAÑOLA INTEGRA", as.com, 2006-11-13. Retrieved on 2006-11-13.
- ^ "LINDFIELD EARNS RESERVES VICTORY", Liverpool.tv, 2007-01-10. Retrieved on 2007-01-10.
- ^ Antwi Joins Stanley on Loan. liverpoolfc.tv (2007-03-12). Retrieved on 2007-03-12.
- ^ "Hartlepool Loan Liverpool Defender", Vital Hartlepool, 2007-06-29. Retrieved on 2007-06-29.
[edit] Career honours
- 2005-06 FA Youth Cup, with Liverpool
