Time to meet a World Cup star who also played in the Somerset Cup for a 6th tier club just four years before playing in Qatar this winter.
Antoine Semenyo, who was a sixth-tier player in Bath City’s Somerset Cup, has now represented Ghana at the most prestigious sporting tournament in all of sports in just four years. How great is that for career growth?
After a successful start to the season at Championship side Bristol City, the 22-year old London-born player can play on both the front and the flank. He made his debut for Black Stars in June.
As his side tried to find a late equaliser, he was called on in the second half. He was seated in the front row for Inaki Williams’ final moments of agony.
Semenyo was 17 when he signed for Bristol City in 2017. However, he struggled to get first-team time and was loaned to National League South side Bath City.
GOAL OF THE DAY | On this day in 2018, Antoine Semenyo scored his first Romans goal and would go on to net a hat-trick in City’s 8-1 Somerset Cup Quarter Final win over Welton Rovers at Twerton Park.#Romans pic.twitter.com/xwhOlgBrQE
— Bath City FC (@BathCity_FC) February 20, 2022
He got some much-needed game time and his confidence grew, so the goals began to flow. Six goals were scored by the Romans in 16 games, including a memorable hat trick against the mighty Welton Rovers in the 8-1 Somerset Cup quarter-final match.
The next season, he began climbing the ladder and was loaned to League Two side Newport County, then to League One outfit Sunderland the year following. He returned to Ashton Gate in 2020/21.
Semenyo, who had only scored two league goals his first campaign back at Bristol in the inaugural campaign, quadrupled his total the next season and has been flying since the summer break.
Semenyo, who had scored four goals in five matches prior to the World Cup, was statistically the hottest Ghanaian striker. Let’s hope he has the opportunity to prove his worth. It’s amazing how much different scoring in the Somerset Cup can be from scoring at the World Cup.
Four years ago Antoine Semenyo was playing for Bath City in a Somerset Cup quarter-final against Welton Rovers.
Today, the 22-year-old is on the bench for Ghana at a #FIFAWorldCup 🇬🇭#BBCFootball #BBCWorldCup https://t.co/E28BBEYBzh
— Match of the Day (@BBCMOTD) November 24, 2022
Bristol City’s Antoine Semenyo said that is ‘crazy’ that he could come up against Cristiano Ronaldo at the World Cup with Ghana playing Portugal in their opening game in Qatar and it could see the Robins striker line up against the recently released Manchester United forward.
He said: “When I speak about it, it is crazy. I’ve always watched him from when I was young and I watch him now.
“To be up against him is good, I am going to relish the challenge, work hard, and do what I can to stop him from scoring and put the ball in the back of the net myself.
“I want to be playing, I want to be involved. Hopefully, I have done enough to be in the starting line-up.”
“Tactically it is a little bit more different,” admitted Semenyo on playing in alongside players with the experience of playing in the Premier League as well as adapting to various standards of football around the globe. “The coach wants us to play a certain way. I have to be vigilant and I have to listen.
“I’m working on my movement a lot more. I’m working on the ball a lot more. I’ve really tried to keep the ball, play around the back and play through the midfield.
He added: “When I’m in I need to make sure I am always available, whether that is in behind, it’s helping my game at Bristol as well. It adds that sharpness and that movement and clinical edge.
“With the characters, we have in the team we want it to be faster, quick, and slick. You have to adjust to that.
“You have to be slick with everything. Moving the ball quickly with two touches and being as quick as possible with the ball.”
🇬🇭Antoine Semenyo on making World Cup Squad🗣 “it hasn’t sunk in yet”.pic.twitter.com/JdDYKudrK9
— George Addo Jnr (@addojunr) November 15, 2022
🇬🇭Antoine Semenyo scores his first in Ghana colors and a second goal for the Black Stars .
2-0 pic.twitter.com/cUl1tbtB2G
— George Addo Jnr (@addojunr) November 17, 2022
Antoine Semenyo making his World Cup debut. 🤩 #BristolCity pic.twitter.com/BKgXwfzQBU
— Professor R.Niblett (@R_Niblett_) November 24, 2022
There was a lot of reaction to the World Cup star who only played in a Somerset Cup match for 6th tier club Bath City four years before Qatar…
@Toby_Saunders94: Bath City legend
@oaks_buck7: Class 👏🏻
@EdBazeley: Proud moment for the Romans seeing him subbed on today. @BathCity_FC #Bathcity #BristolCity
@ThomassmithWRFC: “Smithy play right back” they said! 🤦🏻🤦🏻
@hbrooks_coach: Antoine Semenyo has some fantastic qualities and is a great lad. He started football really late as well, so the fact he’s got himself to the World Cup is utterly remarkable. Was a pleasure coaching him.
@bcfc_22: been sensational for us
Months before the last World Cup Antoine Semenyo was plying his trade for Bath City.
Today he’s on the bench for Ghana, expect some energy if he comes on! pic.twitter.com/0sBqsHcuQl
— One Stream in Bristol (@OSIBPODMAG) November 24, 2022
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