Godwin Antwi
Encyclopedia
Godwin Antwi Birago is a Ghana
ian-Spanish
professional footballer, who is currently playing for Danish
club Vejle Boldklub
in the Danish 1st Division
. He can play at either centre-back
or as a central midfielder
. He holds both a Ghanaian passport
and a Spanish passport
.
, Ghana
. When he was 14 years old, he moved to Spain and lived there for three years. 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.
At 17 years of age, he was spotted by Paco Herrera, then head scout of Liverpool. 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
. 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. The call-up was possible due to his Spanish passport. Despite the Spanish Under-19 call-up, Antwi can freely choose which country to represent at a senior level, before he turns 21 years old.
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
. On March 13, it was announced that he had joined Accrington Stanley
on a month's loan. 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.
In July 2008 he joined Tranmere Rovers on loan until January 2009. Returned to Anfield
only to be loaned out again in February 2009 this time to League One side Hereford United
and made his debut in their 2-0 home win over Leeds United.
Antwi was released by Liverpool FC on 16 June 2009.
On December 23. Antwi signed a half-year long contract with Danish
club Vejle BK.
Ghana
Ghana , officially the Republic of Ghana, is a country located in West Africa. It is bordered by Côte d'Ivoire to the west, Burkina Faso to the north, Togo to the east, and the Gulf of Guinea to the south...
ian-Spanish
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
professional footballer, who is currently playing for Danish
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
club Vejle Boldklub
Vejle Boldklub
Vejle Boldklub is a Danish football club with proud traditions from the town of Vejle. The club has won the Danish championship five times and the Danish cup title six times....
in the Danish 1st Division
Danish 1st Division
The 1st Division has been the name of the second highest football league in Denmark since 1991. From 1945 to 1991 the 1st Division was the name of the highest level of football in Denmark...
. He can play at either centre-back
Defender (association football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
or as a central midfielder
Midfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
. He holds both a Ghanaian passport
Ghanaian passport
Ghanaian passports are passports issued exclusively by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration to Ghanaians granted citizenship in accordance with Ghana Citizenship Act 2000. There are three types of passport booklets – regular, service and diplomatic passports...
and a Spanish passport
Spanish passport
Spanish passports are issued to Spanish citizens for the purpose of travel outside Spain. However, for travel solely within the European Economic Area, Switzerland and a number of other European countries, Spanish citizens need only use their Spanish identity card...
.
Biography
Antwi was born in KumasiKumasi
Kumasi is a city in southern central Ghana's Ashanti region. It is located near Lake Bosomtwe, in the Rain Forest Region about northwest of Accra. Kumasi is approximately north of the Equator and north of the Gulf of Guinea...
, Ghana
Ghana
Ghana , officially the Republic of Ghana, is a country located in West Africa. It is bordered by Côte d'Ivoire to the west, Burkina Faso to the north, Togo to the east, and the Gulf of Guinea to the south...
. When he was 14 years old, he moved to Spain and lived there for three years. He initially played street soccer, before he entered the youth setup of Spanish club Real Zaragoza
Real Zaragoza
Real Zaragoza, S.A.D. is a Spanish association football team from Zaragoza in Spain. Founded on 18 March 1932, Real Zaragoza have spent the majority of their 78 year history in the Spanish top-flight. Real Zaragoza are Spain's 9th highest ranked team in overall league points...
for 1 year. He eventually obtained a Spanish passport.
At 17 years of age, he was spotted by Paco Herrera, then head scout of Liverpool. He watched Liverpool beat Chelsea
Chelsea F.C.
Chelsea Football Club are an English football club based in West London. Founded in 1905, they play in the Premier League and have spent most of their history in the top tier of English football. Chelsea have been English champions four times, FA Cup winners six times and League Cup winners four...
home at Anfield
Anfield
Anfield is an association football stadium in the district of Anfield, Liverpool, England, with a seating capacity of 45,522. It has been the home of Liverpool F.C. since their formation in 1892 and was originally the home of Everton F.C. from 1884 to 1892, before they moved to Goodison Park...
in the semi-final of the 2005 UEFA Champions League
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
. 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
Guinea national football team
The Guinea national football team, nicknamed Syli national , is the national team of Guinea and is controlled by the Fédération Guinéenne de Football. They have never qualified for the World Cup finals, and their best finish in the African Nations Cup was second in the 1976...
striker Titi Camara
Titi Camara
Aboubacar Sidiki Camara, more commonly known as Titi Camara , is the Sports Minister of Guinea. He is a former football player who was also the coach of the Syli National , the Guinean national team, which he captained and played for.-Club career:Camara was once a highly-touted prospect, spending...
. He joined Liverpool, who had newly been crowned the UEFA Champions League winners, when Liverpool manager Rafael Benítez
Rafael Benítez
Rafael "Rafa" Benítez Maudes is a football manager, and former player. He is currently unemployed, after leaving as manager of Internazionale in December 2010....
offered him a contract in August 2005.
He started his Liverpool career, playing in the reserve team during the 2005-06
2005-06 in English football
The 2005–06 season was the 126th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:*The rebuilt Wembley Stadium was due to open in time for the FA Cup final in May. However, in August 2005, The Football Association reserved the Millennium Stadium as a backup, as there was some doubt whether...
season. Due to a striker
Striker
Forwards, also known as strikers, are the players on a team in association football who play nearest to the opposing team's goal, and are therefore principally responsible for scoring goals...
shortage, he initially played up front. In his usual defending position, he helped Liverpool win the 2006 FA Youth Cup
FA Youth Cup
The Football Association Youth Challenge Cup is an English football competition run by The Football Association for under–18 sides. Only those players between the age of 15 and 18 on 31 August of the current season are eligible to take part...
, beating Manchester City
Manchester City F.C.
Manchester City Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Manchester. Founded in 1880 as St. Mark's , they became Ardwick Association Football Club in 1887 and Manchester City in 1894...
in the final.
On 8 November 2006, Antwi was called up by the Under-19 Youth setup of the Spanish national team
Spain national football team
The Spain national football team represents Spain in international association football and is controlled by the Royal Spanish Football Federation, the governing body for football in Spain. The current head coach is Vicente del Bosque...
to train with them. The call-up was possible due to his Spanish passport. Despite the Spanish Under-19 call-up, Antwi can freely choose which country to represent at a senior level, before he turns 21 years old.
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
Neil Shipperley
Neil Jason Shipperley is a retired English professional footballer, who played as a centre-forward. He is the former manager of Walton Casuals of the Isthmian League Division One South....
of Sheffield United
Sheffield United F.C.
Sheffield United Football Club is a professional English football club based in the city of Sheffield, South Yorkshire.They were the first sporting team to use the name 'United' and are nicknamed 'The Blades', thanks to Sheffield's worldwide reputation for steel production...
. On March 13, it was announced that he had joined Accrington Stanley
Accrington Stanley F.C.
Accrington Stanley is an English association football club from Accrington in Lancashire, in the North West of England, who play in Football League Two, the fourth-highest division in the English football league system....
on a month's loan. He remained at Stanley until the end of the season.
Antwi joined Hartlepool United
Hartlepool United F.C.
Hartlepool United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Hartlepool that currently play in League One. The team won promotion to League One in the 2006–07 season...
on a season-long loan for the 2007-08
2007-08 in English football
The 2007–08 season was the 128th season of competitive football in England.-European competitions:In October 2007 Arsenal equalled the UEFA Champions League record victory with a 7–0 win over Slavia Prague at the Emirates Stadium. The record was broken the following month when Liverpool...
season on 29 June 2007. He scored his first goal for Hartlepool against Doncaster on 18 August 2007.
In July 2008 he joined Tranmere Rovers on loan until January 2009. Returned to Anfield
Anfield
Anfield is an association football stadium in the district of Anfield, Liverpool, England, with a seating capacity of 45,522. It has been the home of Liverpool F.C. since their formation in 1892 and was originally the home of Everton F.C. from 1884 to 1892, before they moved to Goodison Park...
only to be loaned out again in February 2009 this time to League One side Hereford United
Hereford United F.C.
Hereford United Football Club is an English professional football club based in the city of Hereford. Founded in 1924, they are competing in Football League Two in the 2011–12 season. Hereford have played at Edgar Street for their entire history and are nicknamed 'The Whites' or 'The Lilywhites',...
and made his debut in their 2-0 home win over Leeds United.
Antwi was released by Liverpool FC on 16 June 2009.
On December 23. Antwi signed a half-year long contract with Danish
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
club Vejle BK.