Rich Asante
Personal information
Full name	Richard Kwaku Asante
Date of birth	July 24, 1985 (1985-07-24) (age 24)
Place of birth	Abesim, Ghana
Height	5 ft 5 in (1.65 m)
Playing position	Midfielder
Club information
Current club	Italia Shooters
Number	39
Youth career
-2001 2001-2003 2003–06	C.S. Azzurri Westview Centennial Syracuse University
Senior career1
Years	Club	App (Gls)*
2007 2007 2008-	Toronto FC Toronto Lynx Italia Shooters	0 (0) 2 (0) 8 (0)
National team2
2000-2001 2003	Canada U-17 Canada U-20	5 (0) 7 (0)
1 Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of January 12, 2007. 2 National team caps and goals correct as of May 7, 2008. * Appearances (Goals)

Richard Asante (born July 24, 1985 in Ghana) is an Canadian/Ghanaian soccer player who currently plays for Italia Shooters.

[edit] Early Life

He was born in Ghana, but he and his parents moved to Canada and he now holds Canadian citizenship.

[edit] 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 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^[1].

On May 11 he signed with the Toronto Lynx of the USL Premier Development League^[2], but after appearing in only two games he left the team and signed than in 2008 for Italia Shooters. Throughout the season Asante helped the Shooters win their second International Division title^[3]. In the playoff run he contributed helping the Shooters advance to the semifinals, but unfortunately the Shooters were defeated by eventual champions Serbian White Eagles in the semi-final match^[4].

[edit] International career

Asante 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.

[edit] Honours

• Ontario Youth Soccer League MVP 2001
• Westview's Player of the Year 2001-02
• Big East Rookie of the Week October 2003
• Frank Schantz Award 2004

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Richard Asante's biography at Syracuse Athletics website.
• Toronto Star feature on Asante

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