Godwin Antwi

Football player infobox
playername = Godwin Antwi


fullname = Godwin Antwi Birago
nickname =
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1988|6|7|df=y
cityofbirth = Kumasi
countryofbirth = Ghana
height = Height|ft=6|in=1
currentclub = Tranmere Rovers
(on loan from Liverpool)
clubnumber = 2
position = Centre back
youthyears = ?–2004 ?-? 2004–2005 2005–2006
youthclubs = Asante Kotoko CD San Gregorio Arrabal Real Zaragoza Liverpool
years = 2006– 2007
2007–2008
2008–
clubs = Liverpool → Accrington Stanley (loan)
→ Hartlepool United (loan)
→ Tranmere Rovers (loan)
caps(goals) = 01 (0) 09 (0)
27 (1)
02 (0)
nationalyears =
nationalteam = Spain U19
nationalcaps(goals) =0 0 (0)
pcupdate = 20:59, 24 August 2008 (UTC)
ntupdate = 16 December 2006

Godwin Antwi Birago (born 7 June 1988) is Ghanaian-Spanish professional footballer who plays for Liverpool. He is currently on loan at Tranmere Rovers until January 2009. Antwi can play at either centre-back or central midfield. Antwi is the first player from Ghana to represent Liverpool.

Biography

Antwi was born in Kumasi, Ghana. When he was 14 years old, he moved to Spain and lived there for three years. [es icon cite news | date=2006-11-13 | url=http://www.elpais.com/articulo/deportes/espanol/Ghana/elppordep/20061111elpepidep_1/Tes | title=Un español de Ghana| publisher=elpais.com | accessdate=2006-11-13] 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.cite news | date=2006-11-30 | url=http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/SportsArchive/artikel.php?ID=114767 | title=Spain "Steals" Godwin Antwi| publisher=ghanaweb.com | accessdate=2006-11-30]

At 17 years of age, he was spotted by Paco Herrera, then head scout of Liverpool.cite news | date=2005-08-24 | url=http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/drilldown/N149793050824-1406.htm | title=NEW BOY GODWIN LOVES THE ANFIELD ROAR| publisher=www.liverpoolfc.tv | accessdate=2005-08-24] 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. [es icon cite news | date=2006-11-16 | url=http://www.labolsa.com/foro/mensajes/1163680719/ | title=La nueva perla negra del Liverpool es un hispanoganés| publisher=labolsa.com | accessdate=2006-11-16] [es icon cite news | date=2006-11-13 | url=http://www.as.com/articulo/futbol/Seleccion/espanola/integra/dasftbU00/20061115dasdaiftb_29/Tes/ | title=LA SELECCIÓN ESPAÑOLA INTEGRA| publisher=as.com | accessdate=2006-11-13] The call-up was possible due to his Spanish passport. Despite the Spanish Under-19 call-up [ [http://www.cdnumancia.com/foro/forum_posts.asp?TID=1464&PN=1&TPN=7] ] , 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. [cite news | date=2007-01-10 | url=http://fifaworldcup.yahoo.com/06/en/050926/1/4r33.html | title=LINDFIELD EARNS RESERVES VICTORY | publisher=Liverpool.tv | accessdate=2007-01-10] On March 13, it was announced that he had joined Accrington Stanley on a month's loan.cite web|url=http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/drilldown/N155273070313-1121.htm|work=liverpoolfc.tv|title=Antwi Joins Stanley on Loan|date=2007-03-12|accessdate=2007-03-12] 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.cite news
title = Hartlepool Loan Liverpool Defender
url = http://www.hartlepool.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=71415
publisher = Vital Hartlepool
date = 2007-06-29
accessdate = 2007-06-29]

In July 2008 he joined Tranmere Rovers on loan until January 2009. [cite news |first= |last= |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=Tranmere sign Liverpool's Antwi |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/t/tranmere_rovers/7525323.stm |work= |publisher="BBC Sport" |date=2008-07-25 |accessdate=2008-07-25 ]

References

Career honours

* 2005-06 FA Youth Cup, with Liverpool

External links

*soccerbase|id=46377|name=Godwin Antwi
* [http://www.hartlepoolunited.premiumtv.co.uk/page/ProfilesDetail/0,,10326~39529,00.html Antwi’s Official Hartlepool United F.C. profile]
* [http://www.inthemadcrowd.co.uk/cgi-bin/itmc_view_person.asp?oid=8102 Godwin Antwi profile] at [http://www.inthemadcrowd.co.uk/ In The Mad Crowd]
* [http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/team/squad/antwi/ Liverpool FC profile]
* [http://www.hartlepool.vitalfootball.co.uk/player.asp?p=300 Vital Hartlepool Profile: Godwin Antwi]