Picture taken from Sporx
Ankaragucu has seen many good Foreign players wear the famous Yellow and Blue Jersey, it can also be said we have seen many a bad Foreign player play for us to. The one player who stands out from the crowd is former Ghana International Augustine Ahinful who had two spells with the club.
Augustine started off his football career with Golfields Obuasi before moving to Europe with Borussia Dortmund spotting his talent at the 1993 Fifa World Youth Championship. Spells With Grasshopper Zurich, Deportivo Leiria, Venezia and Boavista followed before he signed for Ankaragucu in 2000. This is where Augustine found his home and became a Hero amongst the Ankaragucu Tribunes. He would go on to play 103 games scoring 44 goals, becoming the clubs leading Foreign Scorer of all time.
Augustine was part of the Front Trio of Hakan Keles and his International team mate Ohene Kennedy. In there first season they helped Ankaragucu to a 6th place finish. The second season was to be even better as another excellent season from all three players helped Ankaragucu to 4th and European qualification. Ankaragucu sold Ohene Kennedy to Adanaspor in the Summer though which broke up a wonderful partnership.
A Quick and Skillfull striker with a good eye for goal and hard working is something that would be welcomed at any team, and Augustine had no shortage of admirers with his performances with Ankaragucu. His first spell with the club came to an end after three seasons when he signed for Trabzonspor.
His time at Trabzonspor didnt turn out to be as successful, in just over one season he only scored 1 goal in the 27 appearances he made. He did however win a Turkish Cup Winners medal though. Augustine returned to Ankaragucu for his second spell which again didnt reach the heights of his first spell as so often the case in football. Aydin Bebbe and Jaba were the main Strikers and Augustine found himself on the bench often. In 2008 Augustine Ahinful announced his retirement from football.
Augustine also represented his country at International level with 19 caps but failed to score a goal for Ghana.
Its always difficult players moving to a different country,and different culture but Augustine was a big player for Ankaragucu and im sure the Round Ball in Ankara will be sharing there memories of him from his time in Ankara.
Ah yes, those were heady days Nadeem.
ReplyDeleteI returned permanently to Ankara in 1999 and therefore saw his talents for myself alongside a great team which promised so much. You mentioned Kennedy and Hakan Keles. Also, Hakan Kutlu, Yilmaz and Niyazi also stood out.
No doubt Maniac Kanka Harun will name others whose names have been forgotten in the passage of time.
I should also spare a mention for the man responsible for guiding me to the Club - the famous Ankaragucu goalkeeper, Zalad.
Using the 'if' word .... if only Ankaragucu's Board of Directors (especially Cemal Aydin) had more vision and ambition what more they could have achieved.
If only they had kept Ersun Yanal who moulded that team into qualifiers for the UEFA Cup.
If only they hadn't sold Augustine to Trabzon .... mmmmm ..... too many opportunities lost.
Anyway, back to Augustine and his first spell with the Club and what was special about him was his all round talent on and off the ball.
Also, for a man of average height he was deadly in the box with his heading ability.
Thanks for the memory Nadeem. He was, as you say, the best foreigner ever to wear the famous Sari/Lacivert.
Eski Kanka Jim
I feel a Kennedy profile coming up. :)
ReplyDeleteEski feels a .........
ReplyDeleteYilmaaaaaz Yilmaz Yilmaaaaaaz
profile coming up !!!
Hakan Kutlu and Augustine were easy first choices. The next one ive not thought of who to do , i may look at a current squad player or one of the suggested like Kennedy or Yilmaz. We will see
ReplyDeleteJust to whet your appetite for a future 'Nadeem's Player Profile' .....
ReplyDeleteI was at a match a few years back when Yilmaz scored 4 goals from almost identical free-kick positions just outside the penalty box.
I think it was against Elazig.
Bloody amazing and perhaps a candidate for The Guinness Book of Records !!!