Caleb Amankwah

Caleb Amankwah is one of the best right backs in the country and can also play across the backline due to his versatility.
“When I was young, I was very close to my father and we are still very close because he is my confidant who also helps with decisions and provides second opinion most often when it comes to my career. He used to play football a lot and sometimes he will take me along when he is going to play.
“But he had to give up that dream because he developed a knee injury which cut short his footballing dreams. I remember I used to kick things about a lot and he suggested we find a youth team where I could develop my talent.
Caleb started training with Mighty Stars in Kumasi Tafo till he turned 8 years and then left for Corners Babies in Asafo-Amakom (Kumasi).
“Corners Babies bought me from Mighty City and they brought jerseys and balls for my team (Mighty City) and I joined the under 10 side. Later I graduated into the under 12, then under 14 before I moved into the under 17.
After years of developing Caleb, Mallam – who owns Corners Babies took him to Liberty in Accra for trials to see Caleb’s growth.
“I went there with Benjamin Bature. The team didn’t seem interested in us so I returned back to Corners Babies and at the time Corners Babies were playing a tournament and around that time, Didi Dramani was coaching Kotoko and after the tournament had ended and I won the Overall Best Player, he asked if I could train with Kotoko so I left for Kotoko. After one week at Kotoko, Didi wanted to send me to Kotoko’s Under 20 side so I told Mallam about it and he refused and suggested Feyenoord because they had called him to enquire if he had a defender and he felt I would do well there. So, I left Kotoko for Feyenoord where I spent 5 months.
After Caleb’s first match, the coach saw a lot of potential and wanted to sign him but Feyenoord Academy was changing hands and later morphed into West African Football Academy (WAFA). The new owners also moved the team from Fetteh to Sogakope as the team’s home grounds.
“Because of the back and forth and change that was taking place, the deal I was supposed to sign delayed but after the first round of the league, they signed me and paid all the fees I was supposed to receive. I played for 4 years and just when my contract was about to expire, I got a deal in Libya but the owner of WAFA suggested that I should sign two years with his team again instead of going to Libya because he had better plans for my career.
Caleb spoke to his father about it on a Monday and he received a call on Thursday from Nana Agyeman Badu of Aduana Stars FC.
“Nana Agyeman Badu said he needed me in his team as he had qualified for Africa and he promised to do anything to get my signature; So, I spoke to my father and Mallam who both said I should decide where I wanted to play and so I settled with Aduana Stars FC and signed a 3 year contract.
The 21-year old was Man-of-the Match against XI Wonders in the ongoing GFA Special competition and sparkled as Aduana Stars drew with Medeama SC on Day 7 of the tournament.
Having joined the Premier League champions from Academy side two seasons ago, the Black Meteors defender has established himself in the Aduana team.
He was an integral member of the team before the 2018 league season was truncated. He featured in the club’s CAF Champions League and Confederations Cup campaign last season (2018).
YFMGhana.com/Isshak Abdullai