Richmond Forson
Encyclopedia
Richmond Forson is a naturalized Togo
lese football
midfielder
, who plays for Chauvigny in the Championnat de France amateur 2.
. His early promise which saw interest in him by such big clubs as Arsenal
was almost eliminated when in 2001, while only 21, he was the victim of a serious road accident in France which left him unable to play for almost a year. Determined to get his career back on track, Forson then played as a defender for Lucon, FC Sete and an amateur team SJA Le Poiré-sur-Vie
.
Following the 2006 World Cup from January 2007 - August 2008, Forson played two seasons for AS Cherbourg Football
in the French Championnat National
. In 2008 after a falling out with the coach having lost his place in the side following a period with injury, he left AS Cherbourg Football
and moved to Thouars Foot 79
.
who plays for Togo
. The other is Éric Akoto
.
Forson remains one of Togo's best defenders. He is a fast and a powerful striker of the ball and strong in the air.
, the country of his birth, or Togo
, where he grew up, and he chose Togo
. He holds passports from France, Ghana and Togo.
national team. His national debut came in mai 2001 in Togo (Togo vs Senegal) 1-0. His revelation was in a four countries tournament in Iran (Paraguay, Uruguay, Iran and Togo). He was called up to the squad to participate in the 2006 World Cup
where he started in two games vs France and Switzerland. Both games resulted in 2-0 losses though Forson played strongly in the game vs France, effectively marking and containing French strikers like Thierry Henry
Ribery,Govou and Maoulida.
His top performance in the World Cup re-established his career after several wilderness years.
At the 2006 World Cup
, Forson was involved in the bonus disupte where the entire Togo
threatened to go on strike after the national federation failed to pay the bonus money that was owed to the players. The situation was resolved with a partial payment to the players.
In January 2010, Forson was on a bus with the rest of the Togolese Football team which was travelling to the Africa Cup of Nations, when the bus was attacked by gunmen for over 20 minutes causing three casualties.
Midfielder Richmond Forson claimed the number of injuries would have been much worse had the gunmen not originally fired on the wrong bus. He said: "It was the bus carrying our baggage, which was in front of us, which they fired on the most. They thought we were in the bus in front, fortunately for us. That's what saved us. "Then they fired on our driver and those who were in front. The windscreen was shattered by the first bullets.
Togo
Togo, officially the Togolese Republic , is a country in West Africa bordered by Ghana to the west, Benin to the east and Burkina Faso to the north. It extends south to the Gulf of Guinea, on which the capital Lomé is located. Togo covers an area of approximately with a population of approximately...
lese football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
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...
, who plays for Chauvigny in the Championnat de France amateur 2.
Career
As a youngster who started out with Sporting Club de Lome, Forson moved to France to FC MetzFC Metz
Football Club de Metz, commonly referred to as simply Metz , is a French association football club based in Metz. The club was formed in 1932 and has spent most of its history in the Ligue 1, though they currently play in Ligue 2, the second level in French football league system. Metz plays its...
. His early promise which saw interest in him by such big clubs as Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
was almost eliminated when in 2001, while only 21, he was the victim of a serious road accident in France which left him unable to play for almost a year. Determined to get his career back on track, Forson then played as a defender for Lucon, FC Sete and an amateur team SJA Le Poiré-sur-Vie
SJA Le Poiré-sur-Vie
Sainte-Jeanne d'Arc Le Poiré-sur-vie is a French football club based in Le Poiré-sur-Vie . -History:The club, founded in 1954, is currently playing in the Championnat National, the third tier in the French football league system....
.
Following the 2006 World Cup from January 2007 - August 2008, Forson played two seasons for AS Cherbourg Football
AS Cherbourg Football
AS Cherbourg or the Association Sportive de Cherbourg Football is a French football club currently playing in the Championnat National, which is the third division in France...
in the French Championnat National
Championnat National
The Championnat de France National, commonly referred to as simply National or Division 3, serves as the third division of the French football league system behind Ligue 1 and Ligue 2...
. In 2008 after a falling out with the coach having lost his place in the side following a period with injury, he left AS Cherbourg Football
AS Cherbourg Football
AS Cherbourg or the Association Sportive de Cherbourg Football is a French football club currently playing in the Championnat National, which is the third division in France...
and moved to Thouars Foot 79
Thouars Foot 79
Club Sportif des Cheminots Thouarsais is a French football club, based in Thouars and currently playing in the Championnat de France Amateurs 2.Their reserves play in the PH 2nd division in the district.- Honours :*Champion de France Division 4 : 1991...
.
Ghana & Togo Naturalized
Forson is the second football player originally from GhanaGhana
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...
who plays for Togo
Togo national football team
The Togo national football team, nicknamed Les Eperviers The Togo national football team, nicknamed Les Eperviers The Togo national football team, nicknamed Les Eperviers (The Sparrow Hawks, is controlled by the Fédération Togolaise de Football.They played at the 2006 FIFA World Cup. Their team bus...
. The other is Éric Akoto
Eric Akoto
Eric Akoto is a naturalized Togolese football defender. He is currently a free agent after his previous club, North Queensland Fury ceased to participate in the A-League, through financial difficulties.-Club career:...
.
Forson remains one of Togo's best defenders. He is a fast and a powerful striker of the ball and strong in the air.
Additional information
Forson speaks both English and French. As a youngster, Forson had the choice of playing for GhanaGhana
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...
, the country of his birth, or Togo
Togo
Togo, officially the Togolese Republic , is a country in West Africa bordered by Ghana to the west, Benin to the east and Burkina Faso to the north. It extends south to the Gulf of Guinea, on which the capital Lomé is located. Togo covers an area of approximately with a population of approximately...
, where he grew up, and he chose Togo
Togo national football team
The Togo national football team, nicknamed Les Eperviers The Togo national football team, nicknamed Les Eperviers The Togo national football team, nicknamed Les Eperviers (The Sparrow Hawks, is controlled by the Fédération Togolaise de Football.They played at the 2006 FIFA World Cup. Their team bus...
. He holds passports from France, Ghana and Togo.
International
While still an amateur player; Forson became a member of the TogoTogo national football team
The Togo national football team, nicknamed Les Eperviers The Togo national football team, nicknamed Les Eperviers The Togo national football team, nicknamed Les Eperviers (The Sparrow Hawks, is controlled by the Fédération Togolaise de Football.They played at the 2006 FIFA World Cup. Their team bus...
national team. His national debut came in mai 2001 in Togo (Togo vs Senegal) 1-0. His revelation was in a four countries tournament in Iran (Paraguay, Uruguay, Iran and Togo). He was called up to the squad to participate in the 2006 World Cup
2006 FIFA World Cup
The 2006 FIFA World Cup was the 18th FIFA World Cup, the quadrennial international football world championship tournament. It was held from 9 June to 9 July 2006 in Germany, which won the right to host the event in July 2000. Teams representing 198 national football associations from all six...
where he started in two games vs France and Switzerland. Both games resulted in 2-0 losses though Forson played strongly in the game vs France, effectively marking and containing French strikers like Thierry Henry
Thierry Henry
Thierry Daniel Henry is a French professional footballer who plays for the New York Red Bulls in Major League Soccer.Henry was born in Les Ulis, Essonne where he played for an array of local sides as a youngster and showed great promise as a goal-scorer. He was spotted by AS Monaco in 1990 and...
Ribery,Govou and Maoulida.
His top performance in the World Cup re-established his career after several wilderness years.
At the 2006 World Cup
2006 FIFA World Cup
The 2006 FIFA World Cup was the 18th FIFA World Cup, the quadrennial international football world championship tournament. It was held from 9 June to 9 July 2006 in Germany, which won the right to host the event in July 2000. Teams representing 198 national football associations from all six...
, Forson was involved in the bonus disupte where the entire Togo
Togo national football team
The Togo national football team, nicknamed Les Eperviers The Togo national football team, nicknamed Les Eperviers The Togo national football team, nicknamed Les Eperviers (The Sparrow Hawks, is controlled by the Fédération Togolaise de Football.They played at the 2006 FIFA World Cup. Their team bus...
threatened to go on strike after the national federation failed to pay the bonus money that was owed to the players. The situation was resolved with a partial payment to the players.
In January 2010, Forson was on a bus with the rest of the Togolese Football team which was travelling to the Africa Cup of Nations, when the bus was attacked by gunmen for over 20 minutes causing three casualties.
Midfielder Richmond Forson claimed the number of injuries would have been much worse had the gunmen not originally fired on the wrong bus. He said: "It was the bus carrying our baggage, which was in front of us, which they fired on the most. They thought we were in the bus in front, fortunately for us. That's what saved us. "Then they fired on our driver and those who were in front. The windscreen was shattered by the first bullets.
External links
- Career stats - L'Equipe