Christian Annan

Christian Annan

Personal information
Full name	Christian Kwesi Annan
Date of birth	May 3, 1978 (1978-05-03) (age 33)
Place of birth	Accra, Ghana
Height	1.67 m (5 ft 6 in)
Playing position	Striker/ Left-Winger
Club information
Current club	Tai Po
Number	15
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
2005–2006	Eastern	8	(14)
2006–	Tai Po	92	(28)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 15 August 2011. † Appearances (Goals).

Christian Kwesi Annan (Chinese: 安基斯; born May 3, 1978(1978-05-03)) is a Ghanaian professional footballer, who plays as a striker. He joined Tai Po in 2006 and is famed in Hong Kong First Division for his high pace and dribbling skill.

Biography

Eastern AA

Annan trying to go past Fung Ka Ki of Mutual FC in a league game

Christian Annan arrived in Hong Kong to continue his football career in 2004. Unfortunately, he arrived at a time when most clubs in the First Division had already finished their foreign player signings, and so he joined Eastern, a Second Division club instead.

With 14 goals in 11 matches, including a hat trick against Tai Po FC, Annan successfully gained the attention of his then opponent. When Tai Po FC has successfully obtained their promotion status after the 2005–06 season, they signed Annan immediately.

Tai Po FC

Although he did not have the same impact in front of goal when compared with his time in the Second Division, Annan bagged 6 goals in 21 matches and became Wofoo Tai Po's top scorer (along with defender Joel), helping the team to successfully avoid relegation . His performances were also thrown into the limelight with his selection into the Hong Kong League XI for the Lunar New Year Cup 2007. With only a brief appearance in the first match against Jamaica, Annan started the next match against Australia U-23, was fouled in the box, gaining a penalty for his team which ultimately tied the match (penalty scored by Keith Gumbs) in injury time.

His contribution on Wofoo Tai Po has been further rewarded: he was selected into the 2006–07 Squad of the Year in the Hong Kong Footballer Awards.

In season 2007-2008, Annan kept performing and being selected into the first squad of Hong Kong League XI for the Lunar New Year Cup 2008. He only dropped out of the final selection due to the overload of attacking players. He scored 7 goals in the season, named the second top league scorer of the team along with striking partner Betine, behind Dega.

In the 2011-12 season, on 18 September 2011, Annan appeared as a second half substitute and scored twice against Kitchee, but Tai Po still lost the game 4:2.

Hong Kong League XI

In 18 July 2010, Annan was selected into Hong Kong League Selection against Birmingham City in the Hong Kong Stadium. He scored a goal in the match and was the MVP of the match. After the match, it is rumored that the manager of Birmingham City Alex McLeish was interested in signing Annan.^[1]

Honours

Club

Tai Po

• Hong Kong FA Cup:
  • Winner: 2008-09

Individual

• Hong Kong Top Footballers: 2006–07

Statistics

Club Statistics

As of 15 August 2011

Club performance			League		Cup		League Cup		Continental		Total
Season	Club	League	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Hong Kong			League		FA Cup & Shield		League Cup		Asia		Total
2005–06	Eastern	Second Division	8	14	3	0	-		-		11	14
Total	Easten		8	14	3	0	0	0	0	0	11	14
2006–07	Tai Po	First Division	15	5	2	0	4	1	-		21	6
2007–08			18	7	4	0	4	0	-		26	7
2008–09			23	9	4	2	2	1	-		29	12
2009–10			18	3	4	1	-		6	1	28	5
2010–11			18	4	6	4	1	0	-		25	8
Total	Tai Po		92	28	20	7	11	2	6	1	129	38
Career total			100	42	23	7	11	2	6	1	140	52

Personal life

Annan married to Irene, a Hong Kong girl whom he met in HK.^[2] and the couple have a daughter, named Precious Annan.^[3] After marriage, Annan handed out red packets to teammates and friends during the Lunar New Year, following the Chinese culture.^[4]。

Notes and references

1. ^ McLeish interested in signing Hong Kong League XI player Christian (in Chinese)
2. ^ Wofoo Tai Po - Football can fulfill dreams (和富大埔—足可圓夢), Wofoo Social Enterprises, 2007，30-37 ISBN 978-9889985110
3. ^ 〈安基斯喜得異地情〉,蘋果日報 , 20th September 2008
4. ^ 〈African soccer players flee war and poverty in search of a better life in Hong Kong〉,South China Morning Post , 8th Octuber 2008

External links

• HKFA Profile

Persondata
Name	Annan, Christian Kwesi
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	1978-05-03
Place of birth	Accra, Ghana
Date of death
Place of death