Junior Agyekum
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Akwasi Agyekum | ||
| Date of birth | March 3, 2002 | ||
| Place of birth | Calgary, Alberta, Canada | ||
| Height | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | ||
| Position(s) | Midfielder | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Launceston City FC | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Calgary West SC | |||
| Springbank SC | |||
| 2018–2021 | Vancouver Whitecaps FC | ||
| College career | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2021– | Thompson Rivers WolfPack | 46 | (2) |
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2022 | Rivers FC | (2) | |
| 2023 | Atlético Ottawa | 0 | (0) |
| 2024– | Launceston City FC | 10 | (1) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of July 13, 2024 | |||
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
[edit]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
[edit]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
[edit]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
[edit]Along with some friends, he started the Cleats4kids foundation, to help give the less fortunate better access to soccer.[23]
Career statistics
[edit]- 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
[edit]- ^ a b Strasser, Scott (November 20, 2018). "Former Springbank player suits up for Whitecaps Academy". Airdrie Today.
- ^ "Akwasi Agyekum TRU profile". Thompson Rivers WolfPack.
- ^ "Three members of the 'Pack earn Canada West honours". Thompson Rivers WolfPack. October 29, 2021.
- ^ "WolfPack claim first U SPORTS title in shootout thriller". Thompson Rivers WolfPack. November 13, 2022.
- ^ Jacques, John (December 29, 2022). "Atletico Ottawa Draft Pick Agyekum: 'I Want To Take It As Far As Possible'". Northern Tribune.
- ^ "Championship MVP Agyekum selected in CPL – U SPORTS draft". Thompson Rivers WolfPack. December 15, 2022.
- ^ Hastings, Marty (December 28, 2022). "Junior eyes jump from Kamloops to Ottawa". Kamloops This Week.
- ^ "Sauvé and Agyekum win championship MVP, named U SPORTS soccer athletes of the week". U Sports. November 16, 2022.
- ^ "Agyekum, Young highlight annual WolfPack Awards Night while two new inductees join the TRU Athletics Hall of Fame". Thompson Rivers WolfPack. April 5, 2023.
- ^ "Agyekum inks CPL-U SPORTS Development Contract". Thompson Rivers WolfPack. April 14, 2023.
- ^ "Agyekum's first career goal sends WolfPack past Huskies". TRU WolfPack. September 23, 2023.
- ^ "Atlético Ottawa draft 2022 U Sports Championship MVP and local striker". Atlético Ottawa. December 15, 2022.
- ^ "Atlético Ottawa signs U-Sports product Junior Agyekum". Atlético Ottawa. April 14, 2022.
- ^ Donnelly, Adam (December 15, 2022). "WolfPack's Agyekum taken 8th overall in Canadian Premier League draft". CFJC-TV.
- ^ Keen, Jon (December 15, 2022). "TRU Wolfpack standout taken in first round of CPL soccer draft". CHNL.
- ^ Kaisar, Victor (April 14, 2023). "TRU's Akwasi Agyekum signs CPL-U SPORTS development contract with Atlético Ottawa". CHNL.
- ^ Jacques, John (April 14, 2023). "Draft Pick Agyekum Signs With Atletico Ottawa". Northern Tribune.
- ^ Hastings, Marty (April 17, 2023). "Agyekum of WolfPack inks program-first CPL-U Sports contract". Kamloops This Week.
- ^ "Atleti in the Community: Zachary Roy and Junior Agyekum visit Seaway Valley Soccer Club". Atlético Ottawa. June 12, 2023.
- ^ "Roster Update: Atlético Ottawa release midfielder Junior Agyekum". Atlético Ottawa. June 28, 2023.
- ^ Jacques, John (June 28, 2023). "Atletico Ottawa Parts Ways With Draft Pick Agyekum". Northern Tribune.
- ^ Shaw, Rob (March 14, 2024). "Big call about star import as Launceston teams kickoff NPL Tasmania campaigns". The Examiner.
- ^ "TRU's Agyekum draws upon pro-level experience to keep finding success". U Sports. March 1, 2024.
- ^ Junior Agyekum at Soccerway
- ^ "Akwasi Agyekum 2024 NPL Stats". Football Tasmania.
External links
[edit]- Junior Agyekum at Soccerway
- Junior Agyekum NPL Stats