Hanson Boakai
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Hanson Tamba Boakai | ||
| Date of birth | 28 October 1996 | ||
| Place of birth | Teldou, Nzérékoré Region, Guinea | ||
| Height | 1.62 m (5 ft 4 in) | ||
| Playing position | Midfielder | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Xtreme FC | |||
| 2011–2013 | FC Edmonton | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 2013–2015 | FC Edmonton | 37 | (2) |
| National team‡ | |||
| 2011 | Canada U15 | 1 | (0) |
| 2013 | Canada U17 | 7 | (2) |
| 2014–2015 | Canada U20 | 9 | (1) |
| 2015– | Canada U23 | 5 | (0) |
|
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of October 25, 2015. | |||
Hanson Tamba Boakai (born 28 October 1996) is a Canadian professional soccer player who played as a midfielder for FC Edmonton of the North American Soccer League. He currently holds the record for the youngest player ever to appear in a NASL game at the age of 16 years and 231 days, taking the record away from his former coach, Colin Miller.[1]
Career
Boakai was born to Liberian parents in Teldou,[2] a small southwestern village in Guinea located a short distance from the border with Sierra Leone.[3] He moved to Edmonton, Alberta, when he was seven-years old.[4] Before joining FC Edmonton's reserves, Boakai played for Xtreme FC. He joined FC Edmonton in 2011 after trying-out with the side.[4]
FC Edmonton
After spending two years with the reserves, Boakai was signed professional by FC Edmonton of the North American Soccer League on 20 February 2013, becoming the youngest player ever signed by an NASL side.[5] On 16 June 2013 Boakai made his professional debut for Edmonton against the Carolina Railhawks in which he came on in the 65th minute for Sadi Jalali and at the same time becoming the youngest ever player to play an NASL game.[1] Edmonton drew the game 1–1.[1]
Boakai scored his first goal for FC Edmonton against Ottawa Fury FC in the 2014 Canadian Championship. FC Edmonton won the game 3-1 and advanced to the semi-finals. [6]
Boakai scored his first goal in the NASL against the San Antonio Scorpions in a 4-0 win on July 5, 2015. [7] His contract with FC Edmonton expired at the end of the 2015 season. [8]
International
Boakai had played for the Canada U15 soccer side while with the Edmonton reserves.[4] He then played for the Canada U17 during the 2013 CONCACAF U-17 Championship, scoring against Costa Rica U17 and Jamaica U17 sides as Canada managed to make it the semi-finals and thus qualify for the 2013 FIFA U-17 World Cup.[9][10]
Boakai continued to represent Canada at the U20 level and was a part of the team that traveled to Northern Ireland for the 2014 Milk Cup.[11] After a strong showing for the youth sides, and a continued presence with Edmonton, Canada coach Benito Floro called up Boakai to the senior team for a friendly against Colombia in October 2014.[12] He did not play, however.
Career statistics
- As of October 25, 2015[13]
| Club | Season | League | Canadian Cup | League Cup | CONCACAF | Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| FC Edmonton | 2013 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 3 | 0 |
| 2014 | 15 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 19 | 1 | |
| 2015 | 13 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 15 | 1 | |
| FC Edmonton Total | 31 | 1 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 37 | 2 | |
| Career Total | 31 | 1 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 37 | 2 | |
References
- 1 2 3 "Boakai Becomes Youngest Ever To Play In The NASL". North American Soccer League. Retrieved 7 July 2013.
- ↑ Canada Soccer Profile
- ↑
- 1 2 3 "#12 Hanson Boakai". FC Edmonton. Retrieved 7 July 2013.
- ↑ Sandor, Steve. "FC Edmonton announces signings of five youth prospects". The 11. Retrieved 7 July 2013.
- ↑ http://www.canadasoccer.com/fc-edmonton-advance-to-amway-canadian-championship-semi-final-with-a-3-1-win-p156301&t=championship_article
- ↑ http://www.fortmcmurraytoday.com/2015/07/05/fc-edmonton-sting-scorpions-in-fort-mcmurray
- ↑ http://www.goal.com/en-ca/news/4188/transfer-zone/2015/09/17/15469212/edmontons-boakai-attracting-interest-from-mls-europe
- ↑ "Canada U17 1-1 Costa Rica U17". CONCACAF. Retrieved 7 July 2013.
- ↑ "Canada U17 4-2 Jamaica U17". CONCACAF. Retrieved 7 July 2013.
- ↑ "FC Edmonton's Boakai one to watch for the future". August 7, 2014.
- ↑ "Canada's squad set for Colombia clash". October 3, 2014.
- ↑ Hanson Boakai profile at Soccerway
External links
| ||||||||
| ||||||