Andrews Owusu – Meet the young Ghanaian goalkeeper who idolizes Abukari Damba

The Ghana Premier League remains one of the top-flights on the continent to have produced exciting goalkeepers in the past and present.

The league has produced a countless number of professional goalkeepers, although few have been able to move out to join top European teams.

In the professional era, the league brought up Sammy Adjei, George Owu, Osei Boateng, and Eric Nii Baah, just to mention a few.

Currently, the likes of Ibrahim Danlad, Joseph Addo, Felix Kyei, Frederick Asare, and Gregory Sekyere are performing creditably well!

Andrews Owusu is a 22-year-old Ghanaian goalie with Accra Lions Football Club who is one of the best to feature in the 2022–23 Ghana Premier League season.

In the 2022/23 season, which is his maiden season, he has made 24 appearances, keeping eight clean sheets after his debut against Tamale City.

The lanky shot-stopper had his breakthrough at the club this season as the side’s number one shot-stopper following the departure of Frederick Asare and Appiah Kubi.

Andrews Owusu, in an exclusive interview with FootydreamsGH.com, showed a clear idea of who he is, his craft as a goalkeeper, and how he wants his career to progress in the years to come.

He made great revelations, indicating strong sense in his football ideas, his aspirations, and life in general.

The interview spans his rise through the youth sides of the clubs he has played for and the future of his footballing career.

His mother, Stella Owusuaa, and father, Kwabena Tween, hail from Sunyani in the Bono region of Ghana.

Owusu tells how his parents ensured he reached the level he desired in his career.

He joined Accra Lions in the year 2020 after helping Young Apostles FC gain qualification for the Zone of the Division One League.

It is the dream of most players in Africa to join top teams in Europe, and Andrews Owusu is not unaware of the seeming lack of opportunities for African goalkeepers at the top level of world football, but he is confident of reaching the summit of world football in the near future.

Away from football, Andrews Owusu loves watching films and videos that will improve his goalkeeping.

He is hoping to help young people realize their dreams after his football career.

Early playing days:

He started his football career with colt club Young Kotoko in Sunyani before moving to Union Rovers, which is a Division Two outfit.

His performance caught the eye of Division One League side Young Apostles, who were then in Division Two.

He qualified Young Apostles for Division One in the same season he joined before moving to Accra Lions the following season.

Education

Although Andrews Owusu had an interest in becoming a professional player at a young age, his parents, Mr. Kwabena Tween and Mad. Stella Owusuaa, ensured that he had to have an education to a certain level before pursuing his long-term dream.

Andrews Owusu had his basic education in the Bono region before enrolling at Jinijini Senior High School for his secondary education, which was his last level in terms of the education ladder.

During his SHS days, he guided his school to emerge as zonal champions in the soccer competition but placed second in the regional games, which got him selected for the regional team.

He helped the regional team place second in the national games, which were held in Wa.

On His Role Model

My role model is the person who usually stands in front of me to teach me, so my team’s goalkeeper trainer, Osei Boateng, is one of them.

What most people don’t know is that I used to play before quitting for the goalkeeping role.

In those days, you hardly got videos of goalkeepers on the local scene.

But I was hearing about former Ghana goalkeeper Abukari Damba on the radio frequently, so I said to myself that I’d work hard to become like him.

Since then, I have been following everything about him and listening to him as well.

Life at Accra Lions

The Scouts of Accra Lions were impressed with my performance after guiding Young Apostles to the Division One League.

My days at the Lions have not been easy because we had good goalkeepers and needed to compete with the likes of Frederick Asare (currently with Kotoko) and Appiah Kubi (also with Medeama). Both helped me a lot. We had a healthy competition.

The officials were good to me, as they had confidence in me that I would be great despite the presence of those two goalkeepers. We have a great relationship. I am glad that I’m playing for them.

National team call-up

Sure, that is very important. I am hoping to earn a call-up to one of the national teams one day. I need to exhibit my talent to the world, and I know that if I keep doing the right things, I will surely get the call-up.

On Accra Lions winning the 2022–23 league

It is the aim of every team in the league to win the trophy at stake. When we started the season, the FA Cup was our main target, but unfortunately, we were kicked out in the first round.

It’s the aim of every player to win a trophy in his football career, so it’s my wish that we win this year’s league. Because one of my goals is to win a trophy for the club.

Moving abroad

It depends. I know I will move outside after my stint with Accra Lions. I know it’s difficult because you hardly see goalkeepers joining European teams from Africa, but I believe in myself. I see myself as someone who can reach that level.

I have the feeling that after this season or next, I will achieve that.

On Ghana League competitiveness

It’s difficult. From afar, you might think it’s easy. I had the same thought before seeing the opportunity in the posts. The points gap in the current league should tell you that it’s not that easy.

Clearly, you can see that our football is developing. It’s a tough league. Nine games to end the season, but no clear-cut winner. I never expected it to be this way. It’s been a tough season.

On Chris Hughton’s visit to league centers

It’s a big motivation for every player, including myself. I know that with a great performance in the presence of the Black Stars coach, I would get a national team call. It’s a good thing he has started. His presence alone makes us do something extra.

By Daniel Osei