Akwasi "Junior" Agyekum (born March 3, 2002) is a Canadian soccer player who plays for Australian club Launceston City FC in NPL Tasmania.

Early life

Agyekum began playing youth soccer with Calgary West SC, later joining Springbank SC.[1] In August 2018, he joined the Vancouver Whitecaps Academy, after impressing the club's academy coaches at the Whitecaps’ Southern Alberta Academy Centre.[1]

University career

In 2021, Agyekum began attending Thompson Rivers University, where he played for the men's soccer team.[2] After his rookie season, he was named to the Canada West All-Rookie Team.[3] In 2022, he helped TRU win the national title.[4][5] At the national championship tournament he was named the Nike Top Performer in two of three TRU matches at nationals, including the final,[6] also being named championship MVP and selected to the tournament all-star team.[7][8] He was also named TRU's Male Athlete of the Year that season.[9][10] On September 23, 2023, he scored his first career goal in a 1-0 victory over the Saskatchewan Huskies.[11]

Club career

In 2022, Agyekum played with Rivers FC in League1 British Columbia.[12][13]

At the 2023 CPL-U Sports Draft, he was selected in the first round (8th overall) by Atlético Ottawa.[14][15] In April 2023, he signed a U Sports development contract with the club, allowing him to maintain his university eligibility.[16][17] He became the first Thompson Rivers University player to sign a U Sports contract.[18] While with Ottawa, he participated in community outreach, visiting the club's youth affiliate clubs.[19] In late June 2023, he departed the club by mutual consent.[20][21]

In 2024, he signed with Launceston City FC in the Australian second tier NPL Tasmania.[22]

Personal life

Along with some friends, he started the Cleats4kids foundation, to help give the less fortunate better access to soccer.[23]

Career statistics

As of July 13, 2024[24]
Club Season League Playoffs Domestic Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Atlético Ottawa 2023 Canadian Premier League 0 0 – 0 0 – 21 17
Launceston City FC 2024[25] NPL Tasmania 10 1 – 2 0 – 12 1
Career total 10 1 0 0 2 0 0 0 12 1

References

  1. ^ a b Strasser, Scott (November 20, 2018). "Former Springbank player suits up for Whitecaps Academy". Airdrie Today.
  2. ^ "Akwasi Agyekum TRU profile". Thompson Rivers WolfPack.
  3. ^ "Three members of the 'Pack earn Canada West honours". Thompson Rivers WolfPack. October 29, 2021.
  4. ^ "WolfPack claim first U SPORTS title in shootout thriller". Thompson Rivers WolfPack. November 13, 2022.
  5. ^ Jacques, John (December 29, 2022). "Atletico Ottawa Draft Pick Agyekum: 'I Want To Take It As Far As Possible'". Northern Tribune.
  6. ^ "Championship MVP Agyekum selected in CPL – U SPORTS draft". Thompson Rivers WolfPack. December 15, 2022.
  7. ^ Hastings, Marty (December 28, 2022). "Junior eyes jump from Kamloops to Ottawa". Kamloops This Week.
  8. ^ "Sauvé and Agyekum win championship MVP, named U SPORTS soccer athletes of the week". U Sports. November 16, 2022.
  9. ^ "Agyekum, Young highlight annual WolfPack Awards Night while two new inductees join the TRU Athletics Hall of Fame". Thompson Rivers WolfPack. April 5, 2023.
  10. ^ "Agyekum inks CPL-U SPORTS Development Contract". Thompson Rivers WolfPack. April 14, 2023.
  11. ^ "Agyekum's first career goal sends WolfPack past Huskies". TRU WolfPack. September 23, 2023.
  12. ^ "Atlético Ottawa draft 2022 U Sports Championship MVP and local striker". Atlético Ottawa. December 15, 2022.
  13. ^ "Atlético Ottawa signs U-Sports product Junior Agyekum". Atlético Ottawa. April 14, 2022.
  14. ^ Donnelly, Adam (December 15, 2022). "WolfPack's Agyekum taken 8th overall in Canadian Premier League draft". CFJC-TV.
  15. ^ Keen, Jon (December 15, 2022). "TRU Wolfpack standout taken in first round of CPL soccer draft". CHNL.
  16. ^ Kaisar, Victor (April 14, 2023). "TRU's Akwasi Agyekum signs CPL-U SPORTS development contract with Atlético Ottawa". CHNL.
  17. ^ Jacques, John (April 14, 2023). "Draft Pick Agyekum Signs With Atletico Ottawa". Northern Tribune.
  18. ^ Hastings, Marty (April 17, 2023). "Agyekum of WolfPack inks program-first CPL-U Sports contract". Kamloops This Week.
  19. ^ "Atleti in the Community: Zachary Roy and Junior Agyekum visit Seaway Valley Soccer Club". Atlético Ottawa. June 12, 2023.
  20. ^ "Roster Update: Atlético Ottawa release midfielder Junior Agyekum". Atlético Ottawa. June 28, 2023.
  21. ^ Jacques, John (June 28, 2023). "Atletico Ottawa Parts Ways With Draft Pick Agyekum". Northern Tribune.
  22. ^ Shaw, Rob (March 14, 2024). "Big call about star import as Launceston teams kickoff NPL Tasmania campaigns". The Examiner.
  23. ^ "TRU's Agyekum draws upon pro-level experience to keep finding success". U Sports. March 1, 2024.
  24. ^ Junior Agyekum at Soccerway
  25. ^ "Akwasi Agyekum 2024 NPL Stats". Football Tasmania.
Allikas: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Junior_Agyekum
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