Latest news with #AntoineSemenyo
IOL News
3 hours ago
- Sport
- IOL News
Beyond the pitch: Antoine Semenyo's secret weapon? His unshakeable faith
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.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Tottenham Hotspur Identify This Bournemouth Attacker As A Target: What Will He Bring To North London?
Tottenham Hotspur Identify This Bournemouth Attacker As A Target: What Will He Bring To North London? In a recent edition of Transfers From Paradise, journalist Dean Jones claimed that Tottenham Hotspur have identified Bournemouth attacker Antoine Semenyo as a target. Jones said, 'One man who could be joining him in the Saudi Pro League is Son Heung-min. Advertisement 'He looks set to leave Spurs, which is no major surprise as that has been mooted for a while. One thing Spurs lose if he goes is experience that could be key for a Champions League campaign. 'At the moment, the club are pressing ahead with negotiations on a fee to take Mathys Tel on a permanent deal, but I am also starting to hear whispers that Antoine Semenyo is one of the players they could look to sign.' Semenyo's Decent Run Of Form In The Premier League Semenyo had an impressive season at the Vitality Stadium as he put in a string of eye-catching performances for the Cherries in the final third. The 25-year-old scored 13 goals and picked up seven assists in 42 matches for Bournemouth last season in multiple competitions. Advertisement The Ghanaian talent gave a good account of himself on the left flank based on his average of 3.51 shots per 90 minutes in the Premier League. However, he only kept 32% of his attempts on target. Semenyo also needs to improve his ball distribution after making 73.4% of his attempted passes in league football (stats via BOURNEMOUTH, ENGLAND – APRIL 27: Antoine Semenyo of AFC Bournemouth reacts during the Premier League match between AFC Bournemouth and Manchester United FC at Vitality Stadium on April 27, 2025 in Bournemouth, England. (Photo by) What Will Semenyo Bring To Tottenham Hotspur? Semenyo has got the pace to cause a lot of problems for his marker out in the wide areas. He can strike the ball with venom from long range and has got the vision to engineer a few good chances for his teammates to find the back of the net. Advertisement The Ghana international is primarily a left-winger but can also operate as a right-sided wide player if told to do so. He already knows the Premier League well and won't take much time to settle into life in North London. Semenyo would bring more pace and goals to Tottenham's frontline. He is good enough to serve as a decent replacement for Heung-min Son, who struggled to find consistency with his performances for Spurs last season. At 25, the best is yet to come from Semenyo, so the North London giants would do well to lure him away from Bournemouth this summer.
BBC News
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
'I will never forget Huijsen's farewell to Boscombe'
It was a game with nothing on it, a dead rubber, but I for one will never forget Dean Huijsen's farewell to Boscombe. The Dutch-born Spain international is off to Real Madrid after just one season at the Vitality Stadium after they triggered his release clause of £50 million. The 20-year-old was left out of the starting line up for their final game against Leicester, but was given an incredible ovation when he was introduced as a substitute in the second half. Antoine Semenyo's second goal with a crunching challenge on the edge of the Leicester penalty area, a fitting contribution in his final minutes as a Bournemouth player. Huijsen was handed the microphone as the players thanked the fans after full-time: "It's been a really special year, I'd like to thank the staff and all the people working here, the directors, Andoni, and the group, it's such a great group," he said."I just tried to do my best and work hard, and they really helped me."He then led the fans in one last chant of "Deano again Ole Ole" signing off with "Up the Cherries".I cannot wait to see how his career unfolds with Los Blancos. I can see him becoming a club legend.
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
PICTURES: Cherries finish record-breaking season with win over Foxes
THE Cherries made it a winning finish to a record-breaking 2024/25 season on Sunday as they defeated Leicester City 2-0 at the Vitality Stadium. Antoine Semenyo scored twice in the second half to defeat the Foxes, who offered little going forward, Andoni Iraola's side firmly in control for much of the 90 minutes. That win moved the Cherries to 56 points and ninth place - a record points haul, and a record-equalling league finish in the top flight. Match report: Semenyo brace powers Cherries to Foxes win and top ten finish The players celebrated with their friends and family on the pitch after the game and did a lap of honour to enjoy the victory and mark what has been a brilliant season with the fans. Freelance photographer Richard Crease was at Dean Court for the Daily Echo - see a gallery of his pictures above.
The Independent
25-05-2025
- Sport
- The Independent
Andoni Iraola happy as Bournemouth beat Leicester to secure top-10 finish
Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola 'really enjoyed it' as his side ensured a top-half Premier League finish by ending the season with a 2-0 win over relegated Leicester. Antoine Semenyo scored both goals to ensure victory on what was otherwise a fairly forgettable afternoon. This is Bournemouth's best-ever Premier League season but they had stumbled towards the finish line, having been fifth in the league, eyes firmly fixed on the Champions League places, as recently as February. Just two wins from 12 games before the visit of Leicester extinguished any hope of a first-ever European campaign for the Cherries next season. Manager Andoni Iraola said: 'I've really enjoyed it, this season with the team. This club has finished with the most goals scored and the least goals conceded (in Bournemouth's Premier League history). 'To finish the season outside of the top 10 would have been really unfair for us. I am really happy, not only with Antoine but with everyone.' The future of Leicester manager Ruud van Nistelrooy remains unclear, with speculation suggesting that the club are preparing to part ways with him. He said: 'I still have to wait to have a conversation on a future together or not. 'That needs to take place. It's been a hard season and of course, very disappointed with the relegation.' Since being relegated at the end of April, Leicester's form has been good, with the Foxes having taken seven of the last nine points available to them. Get 3 months free with ExpressVPN Servers in 105 CountriesSuperior Speeds Works on all your devices Try for free ADVERTISEMENT. If you sign up to this service we will earn commission. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent. Get 3 months free with ExpressVPN Servers in 105 CountriesSuperior Speeds Works on all your devices Try for free ADVERTISEMENT. If you sign up to this service we will earn commission. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent. Here they were bright and ought to have gone ahead when Oliver Skipp wasted a good sight of goal. Soon afterwards, Bournemouth's Evanilson dragged a shot just beyond the far post. Bournemouth gained momentum and David Brooks soon saw his volley saved by Jakub Stolarczyk after Tyler Adams' cross had reached him at the far post. As expected, the intensity was hardly fierce at the Vitality Stadium for a final-day fixture with nothing riding on it. Skipp did have the ball in the net for Leicester after half an hour, but Kasey McAteer was offside in the build-up. Five minutes before half-time, Conor Coady brought down Evanilson right on the edge of the area as he threatened to race clear. From the resulting free-kick, Stolarcyzk saved superbly low to his left to keep the scores level. Bournemouth maintained their pressure after the break and were denied by another superb save from Stolarczyk as he pushed Marcus Tavernier's curling shot past the post. Leicester's supporters were spending the afternoon voicing their anger at the club's board, in particular director of football Jon Rudkin. It was then Bournemouth's turn to see a goal ruled out, with the ball having gone out of play on the way to Daniel Jebbison, who volleyed in at the far post. Finally the deadlock was broken and it came following a Bournemouth corner. Justin Kluivert dinked the ball to the far post where Illia Zabarnyi towered a header back into the six-yard box where Semenyo was waiting to stab it home. There was a standing ovation for Real Madrid-bound Dean Huijsen, who came off the bench for the final 13 minutes to say farewell to the Bournemouth supporters. Huijsen had a hand in Semenyo's second goal, winning the ball back on the edge of the Leicester penalty area to allow the Ghana international to pick his spot and score.
