Richard Asante

Football player infobox| playername= Rich Asante
fullname = Richard Kwaku Asante
nickname = "Rich, Little Pitbull"


dateofbirth = birth date and age|1985|7|24
cityofbirth = Abesim
countryofbirth = Ghana
height = height|ft=5|in=5
currentclub = Italia Shooters
clubnumber = 39
position = Midfielder
youthyears = 2003–06
youthclubs = Syracuse University
years = 2007
2007
2008-
clubs = Toronto FC
Toronto Lynx
Italia Shooters
caps(goals) = 0 (0)
2 (0)
nationalteam =Canada U-17
Canada U-20
nationalyears =2000, 2001
2003
nationalcaps(goals) =5 (0)
7 (0)
pcupdate = January 12 2007
ntupdate = May 7, 2008

Richard Asante (born July 24, 1985 in Ghana) is an Canadian/Ghanaian soccer player who currently plays for Italia Shooters. And formerly played in 2006 for USL Premier Development League side Toronto Lynx. He was born in Ghana, but he and his parents moved to Canada and he now holds Canadian citizenship.

Playing career

Asante played his youth soccer with Toronto club C.S. Azzurri. Then played with Westview Centennial, winning the Ontario Cup twice and being named 2001 Ontario Youth Soccer League MVP in his high school years.

In 2003 Asante went on a soccer scholarship to Syracuse University, in his first season he managed to play in 16 games, scoring one goal, and was named Big East Rookie of the Week on October 27. In the same year he represent the Canada U-20 national team at the 2003 FIFA World Youth Championship, where he helped Canada reach the quarter-finals but eventually losing to runners-up Spain.

In his senior year with Syracuse Asante was the winner of the Frank Schantz Award for his commitment to Orange program through performance, character, and citizenship, was named into NSCAA All-Region Second Team, and All-Big East Honorable Mention. On January 19, 2007 Asante was drafted by Toronto FC as the 27th overall pick of the 2007 MLS SuperDraft, but on May 18 Asante mutually agreed with Toronto to release him from his contract [ [http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Soccer/TorontoFC/2007/04/27/4134752-sun.html CHANGE OF TUNE] ] .

On May 11 he signed with the Toronto Lynx of the USL Premier Development League [ [http://22066.vws.magma.ca/07lynx06.htm Lynx sign Richard Asante] ] , but after appearing in only two games he left the team.

References

External links

* [http://www.suathletics.com/roster.asp?playerid=1431&sport=173&roster=195&path=msoccer= Richard Asante's biography at Syracuse Athletics website.]
* [http://www.thestar.com/Sports/article/172735 Toronto Star feature on Asante]