Ghana forward shares his hopes for the Black Stars in Ivory Coast and how working with David Hockaday helped mould him
Where to start when the last year or so has been as memorable as it has for Antoine Semenyo? From becoming a Premier League player a month after pulling on a Ghana shirt at the World Cup to scoring at Anfield – he celebrated by doing a backflip in front of the Kop – and establishing himself as a key cog in a revitalised Bournemouth side, the past 13 months have been quite the ride. “One word is surreal,” he says, smiling. “Everything has happened so quickly, from being at Bristol City, getting called up for the World Cup, the transition of moving to the Premier League, I don’t even know how to describe it … the feeling is just crazy.”
And 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 also 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 – starred in the competition. “When I first got called up I was almost starstruck but I had to keep composed. I didn’t think I’d be playing with them [the Ayews], if I’m honest, but here I am … I have watched Afcon all of my life, from a kid with my parents, so to be involved is an honour. It is going to be tough but I’m ready to embrace the challenge and hopefully we can go all the way and win. It is a massive deal in Africa – it is like bragging rights … I can’t wait.”
Continue reading…Ghana forward shares his hopes for the Black Stars in Ivory Coast and how working with David Hockaday helped mould himWhere to start when the last year or so has been as memorable as it has for Antoine Semenyo? From becoming a Premier League player a month after pulling on a Ghana shirt at the World Cup to scoring at Anfield – he celebrated by doing a backflip in front of the Kop – and establishing himself as a key cog in a revitalised Bournemouth side, the past 13 months have been quite the ride. “One word is surreal,” he says, smiling. “Everything has happened so quickly, from being at Bristol City, getting called up for the World Cup, the transition of moving to the Premier League, I don’t even know how to describe it … the feeling is just crazy.”And 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 also 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 – starred in the competition. “When I first got called up I was almost starstruck but I had to keep composed. I didn’t think I’d be playing with them [the Ayews], if I’m honest, but here I am … I have watched Afcon all of my life, from a kid with my parents, so to be involved is an honour. It is going to be tough but I’m ready to embrace the challenge and hopefully we can go all the way and win. It is a massive deal in Africa – it is like bragging rights … I can’t wait.” Continue reading…
