Beyond the pitch: Antoine Semenyo's secret weapon? His unshakeable faith

IOL News

16 hours ago

The final whistle has blown on the 2024/25 Premier League season, and as the dust settles, one electrifying name echoes louder than most: Antoine Semenyo. AFC Bournemouth's relentless, marauding Ghanaian forward didn't just play – he dominated, leaving defenders in his wake and fans on the edge of their seats. We managed to corner the man himself for a chat, diving deep into the season that saw him explode onto the Premier League stage. Get ready to hear his incredible story, in his own words.
Bournemouth have reached incredible heights this season. What do you think has clicked this season?
I think it started from pre-season, really. I think everyone was just ready to go. Kind of repeat what we'd done the season before. And I think we've exceeded the expectations, really. So, I think it stems down to the philosophy working again: those intensive speeds and just that mentality. I think everyone's mentality is top here and our place in the table shows that.
You speak about mentality. I think anyone who's watched Bournemouth has maybe seen a change in your habits here, in particular at the Vitality Stadium. If they follow you on social media, they'll know that you're a man of faith. But we've seen you embrace it even more. We see some players before games praying their own ways, but I believe you take it a step further. You have a pastor who's actually a season ticket holder?
Yeah, a season ticket holder. Do you know what's so funny? I met him through one of the players. He used to be here, Junior Stanislas, and I was just looking for a church. And he passed me his number. I started speaking with him, I got a good vibe from him and he told me that he's a season ticket holder. He comes to the games and watches us. And over time he started to build a little connection and I thought, I want to show my faith to the world. It's important to me. So I proposed the idea of him praying with me before the before the games. Everyone's intrigued to see what's going down. But yeah, I just want to share my faith to the world.
Were you at all nervous about that? Because it's such a huge demonstration of faith and at a crucial moment, just before a game?
So he would come over to this little part here, and then we just pray it out. Just give me that protection in the game, the Holy Spirit to lead me to goals. Keep me injury free. And yeah, it's all off-the-cuff freestyle, really.
Does he comment about your game? Your style of play?
Yeah, he does. After the game, he messages me, 'you are on fire! ' 'you pushed that guy in the stands!', and just little things like that just to make me laugh. But I think it all stems down to that prayer before the game, which is so important to me. And if I don't do that, I don't feel right for the game. So that has to be done before anything else is done.
Do you feel faith has been key to what we've seen from you this season?
100%. I think at the start of the season, I knew I wanted to beat the numbers I got and I sat down, prayed on it, made sure that I got the Holy Spirit with me as well. So when I'm on the pitch, I feel like I'm invincible. No one can touch me.
You've passed your second anniversary with the club, and surpassed your goals contribution from last season. Do you feel having that connection and relationship with God has taken you to this path?
Yeah, definitely. I think at the start of the season, my goal was to beat the numbers that I got, and I always sit down and have a long prayer, a little conversation, just saying what I want to do for the season, and it's just coming into fruition now. So I know the Holy Spirit is working. God is working behind me as well. So I'm grateful.