Prince Buaben

Football player infobox| playername= Prince Buaben
fullname = Prince Buaben Abankwah
nickname =
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1988|4|23|df=y
cityofbirth = Akosombo
countryofbirth = Ghana
height = height|m=1.75
currentclub = Dundee United
clubnumber = 25
position = Midfielder
youthyears = 2002–2004
youthclubs = [http://www.zeeburgia.nl A.V.V Zeeburgia]
years = 2004–2007
2007–
clubs = Ajax Amsterdam
Dundee United
caps(goals) = 00 (0)
25 (3)
nationalyears = 2008–
nationalteam = Ghana
nationalcaps(goals) = 1 (0)
pcupdate = 11:33, 15 August 2008 (UTC)
ntupdate = 22:28, 28 June 2008 (UTC)

Prince Buaben (born April 23, 1988 in Akosombo) is a Ghanaian footballer who currently plays in midfield for Dundee United in the Scottish Premier League.

Career

Buaben was born in Ghana, but his mother took his family to the Netherlands when he was nine, as she thought that they would have a better life there. In Holland where he lived for nine years, his big break came when he was playing for local side [http://www.zeeburgia.nl A.V.V Zeeburgia] against Ajax Amsterdam in a friendly, which they lost 9-1, with Bauben notching his side's solitary strike. "After the game, Danny Blind told my uncle that they had been impressed with me, but nothing happened for a while. Eventually, Ajax called me and I went there for a two-week trial when I was 15." [cite news | date=2007-10-20 | url=http://www.voice-online.co.uk/content.php?show=11872 | title=Prince Set To Reign | publisher=Voice Online UK]

A player who grew up in the famous Ajax Amsterdam youth system mostly as a striker, the 19-year-old did enough to impress United manager Craig Levein. He did not have the necessary residential status in The Netherlands to obtain the required work visa when a full time contract was offered to him by the Dutch giants. "In Holland, you cannot play professional football without a resident's permit, and I was not due to get mine until the following year. "But, because I did not have a permit, I could not play professionally, and the club had no choice but to let me go," he recalls. He returned to his native Ghana and due to his family’s UK status obtained a valid visa, which led to a recommendation to United manager Craig Levein [cite web| date=2007-07-20 | url=http://www.dundeeunitedfc.co.uk/index.asp?tm=2&nid=2635&cd=2007 | title=United sign Ghanaian Tralist | publisher=Dundee United FC | accessdate=2007-07-20] .

Buaben joined the club as a trialist at the start of pre-season training and has impressed the manager sufficiently to be awarded a full time contract. On 20 July 2007, Dundee United signed the Ghanaian on a three-year contract, following a successful trial period at Tannadice. Levein told the club website: "He's a young player and although talented, will need time to develop and adapt. "I see him as one for the future but have high hopes that he may break into the first team earlier than expected." [cite news | date=2007-07-20 | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/d/dundee_utd/6909418.stm | title=New Prince arrives at Tannadice | publisher=BBC Sport website]

Buaben made his Dundee United debut in the friendly 2-2 draw against Raith Rovers at Starks Park [cite web | date=2007-07-22 | url=http://www.dundeeunitedfc.co.uk/index.asp?tm=2&nid=2637&cd=2007&cd1=7 | title=Raith Rovers 2 Dundee United 2 | publisher=Dundee United FC| accessdate=2007-07-22] on Sunday 22 July 2007. Despite being lauded as Levein as "one for the future", Buaben quickly settled into the starting line-up of United after some outstanding performances especially his range of excellent passing, which got rave reviews in match reports [cite news | date=2007-10-06 | url=http://www.dundeeunitedfc.co.uk/index.asp?tm=2&nid=2714&cd=2007&cd1=10 | title=DUNDEE UNITED 1-0 MOTHERWELL | publisher=Dundee United FC website] "The Times Online" said "Two of Levein's cheap discoveries, Morgaro Gomis and Prince Buaben, were outstanding for United against Rangers...Both players have brought craft and imagination to the United midfield". [cite news | date=2007-10-29 | url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/scotland/article2759688.ece | title=Dundee United 2-1 Rangers | publisher=Timesonline UK website]

International career

Buaben received his first call-up to the Ghana national squad in March 2008 for the friendly match against Mexico,cite web|url=http://www.dundeeunitedfc.co.uk/index.asp?tm=2&nid=2861&cd=2008|title=International call-ups for Buaben, Camara, McLean and Kenneth{publisher=Dundee United FC|date=2008-03-19] although he remained an unused substitute during the match.

Honours

Dundee United

*

References

ee also

* Dundee United F.C. season 2007-08
* Dundee United F.C. season 2008-09

External links

* [http://www.dundeeunitedfc.co.uk/index.asp?tm=124&ID=304 Official website profile]
*

Persondata
NAME=Abankwah, Prince Buaben
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=Prince Buaben
SHORT DESCRIPTION=Footballer
DATE OF BIRTH=23 April, 1988
PLACE OF BIRTH=Ghana
DATE OF DEATH=
PLACE OF DEATH=