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Can you believe that Antoine Semenyo has had an unforgettable year? He went from playing at the World Cup for Ghana to becoming a Premier League player and even scored at Anfield, celebrating with a backflip in front of the Kop. He has become a crucial part of a rejuvenated Bournemouth team in just 13 months.
“It’s hard to believe,” he says with a smile. “Things have happened so fast, from playing for Bristol City to being chosen for the World Cup, and then making the move to the Premier League… it’s just unbelievable.”
Now there is the small matter of his first Africa Cup of Nations, with Ghana, four-time winners, up against Cape Verde on Sunday before playing Egypt and Mozambique in Group B. Growing up in London, Semenyo watched on TV as his idols – Didier Drogba, Asamoah Gyan and the Ayew brothers, André and Jordan – played in the competition.
“When I was initially called up, I was in awe but I had to remain calm. I never imagined I would be playing alongside the Ayews, but here I am. I have been watching the Africa Cup of Nations since I was a child with my parents, so being a part of it is a great honor.”
“It will be difficult, but I am prepared to take on the challenge and hopefully we can succeed and emerge victorious. It holds great significance in Africa, almost like a source of pride… I’m eagerly anticipating it.”
His father, Larry, grew up in Accra, Ghana’s capital, and played alongside the former Leeds favourite Tony Yeboah at Okwawu United. The pair left for Germany at the same time but after trials at clubs including St Pauli a professional career did not materialise for Semenyo Sr.
Semenyo has heard the story multiple times and recalls attending many of his games as a child. However, his father only played at an amateur level in England. Occasionally, his father will mention his ability to play professionally, creating a healthy sense of competition.
Drogba, who played for Ivory Coast, this year’s hosts of the biennial tournament, has proved an inspiration. When Semenyo was sidelined for four months at Bristol City after surgery on a torn meniscus he analysed his own clips on the digital coaching platform Hudl and scoured YouTube footage of Drogba, Thierry Henry and Michail Antonio to refine his game. He turned a similar negative into a positive when a shin injury hampered his progress at Bournemouth.
The speaker admits that in many instances, defenders made errors or the ball ended up in the box and he was not present to take advantage. He reflects on how last season he often failed to enter the box and lacked eagerness. He has since made adjustments to ensure he is in the optimal position to score or assist for the team. He now constantly takes risks to try and obtain possession of the ball.
In this month, it has been six years since he signed his initial professional agreement with Bristol City. He was then immediately loaned to Bath City, a team in the sixth tier, for his first experience playing at a senior level. Semenyo has progressed from feeling irritated by non-league opponents to dominating defenders in the Champions League. He recalls a game against Wealdstone where he let his frustration get the best of him and ended up being sent off. He reflects on that moment and realizes that with his current knowledge and experience, he would have handled the situation differently. Back then, he just wanted to assert his presence on the field, but now he understands that times have changed.
His religious beliefs have been a cornerstone for him throughout a journey that has been far from simple. He participates in Bible study every other day, often with friends on FaceTime. This includes his younger brother, Jai, who plays for Cardiff and joins in prayer and discussions of scripture.
“In my spare time, my first inclination is to turn to my faith,” he states. “I am grateful for the abilities that God has bestowed upon me and I make sure to thank Him daily. My way of connecting with Him involves reading the Bible, praying, and communicating with Him through all of life’s ups and downs. I often choose a topic from the Bible, study it, and reflect on my personal interpretation. This practice brings me peace and fulfillment.”
Can you identify a specific verse that holds significant meaning? According to him, Philippians 4:13 is a powerful one: “The Lord will always give me strength.”
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Semenyo has faced many instances of rejection. Several teams, including Arsenal, Crystal Palace, Millwall, Reading, and Tottenham, declined to sign him before he joined Ghana’s team. At the age of 15, Palace released him, causing him great disappointment. Semenyo stopped playing for a year and focused on school after struggling to find a new team. A family member encouraged him to attend open trials, which eventually led to his opportunity with David Hockaday.
Hockaday, the former Leeds manager, hosted a trials day at Bisham Abbey and it proved a defining moment. Semenyo – at the time, he says, a chubby midfielder – joined Hockaday’s programme in Swindon, where he went to college and got a BTec in sports science, and then followed Hockaday to South Gloucestershire and Stroud College.
After impressing at Bristol City, he regained the aggressive edge to his game that he had as a young player. Within a short time, Chelsea made a bid of £2m for him. Despite playing with Jojo Wollacott, another Ghana squad member, at Bristol City, the club rejected the bid and held onto him. However, they were unable to turn down a larger bid of £10.5m from Bournemouth last year. Currently, Semenyo is flourishing under the guidance of Andoni Iraola.
Semenyo expresses that our coach encourages us to always give our best effort, regardless of our opponent. I admire his courage and consistency in approaching every team the same way. He reminds us before each game to give our all, even if we can only sustain it for a certain amount of time. Playing under his leadership is challenging, but the rewards are worth it. Even if we may tire out during the game, as long as we have given our all for at least 45, 60, or 70 minutes, we can take comfort in knowing that someone just as skilled will come in to continue the game.
In the past, Semenyo used to play for his community Sunday League team named Kingfisher, where he would often kick the ball high, run, and aggressively shoot past other players. However, he does not believe that he has reached his full potential. He explains that many people become complacent when they reach a certain level, but he does not want to be like that. Instead, he strives to constantly challenge himself and improve his skills every day.
Semenyo is a likable and humble individual, making it easy to develop a positive connection with him. His success serves as a source of motivation for the 33 million people of Ghana, whom he will soon be representing. He reflects on his past experiences while on loan at Bath, Newport, and Sunderland, comparing them to his current position. Looking back, he realizes just how far he has come on his journey.
It is undisputable that he deserves the rewards.
Source: theguardian.com
