Prince Buaben is a
GhanaGhana , officially the Republic of Ghana, is a country located in West Africa. It is bordered by Côte d'Ivoire to the west, Burkina Faso to the north, Togo to the east, and the Gulf of Guinea to the south...
ian professional footballer, who currently plays for
Npower ChampionshipThe Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League...
club Watford F.C in
EnglandEngland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, and the
Ghana national teamThe Ghana national football team, popularly known as the Black Stars, is the national association football team of Ghana and is controlled by the Ghana Football Association...
.
He arrived at
Dundee UnitedDundee United Football Club is a Scottish professional football club located in the city of Dundee. Formed in 1909, originally as Dundee Hibernian, the club changed to the present name in 1923...
after being forced to leave AFC Ajax due to residency issues and has since been capped for Ghana and earned a
Scottish CupThe Scottish Football Association Challenge Cup,, commonly known as the Scottish Cup or the William Hill Scottish Cup for sponsorship purposes, is the main national cup competition in Scottish football. It is a knockout cup competition run by and named after the Scottish Football Association.The...
Winners medal when Dundee United lifted the trophy in 2010.
Naming
Although known to Dundee United fans as
Prince Buaben his full name is Prince Christian Buaben Abankwah, having assumed his fathers name shortly after his death in 2010. He now plays with C. Buaben as his shirt name.
Career
Buaben was born in
GhanaGhana , officially the Republic of Ghana, is a country located in West Africa. It is bordered by Côte d'Ivoire to the west, Burkina Faso to the north, Togo to the east, and the Gulf of Guinea to the south...
, but his mother took his family to
the NetherlandsThe Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
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
A.V.V Zeeburgia against Ajax in a friendly, which they lost 9–1, with Buaben notching his side's solitary strike. "After the game,
Danny BlindDirk Franciscus "Danny" Blind is a football coach and former Dutch international player. He played as a defender for Sparta Rotterdam, AFC Ajax and the Dutch national team.Blind was born in Oost-Souburg, Netherlands...
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."
A player who grew up in the famous
Ajax AmsterdamAmsterdamsche Football Club Ajax , also referred to as AFC Ajax, Ajax Amsterdam or simply Ajax , is a professional football club from Amsterdam, Netherlands...
youth system mostly as a striker, the 19-year-old did enough to impress Dundee United manager
Craig LeveinCraig William Levein is a Scottish former professional footballer and manager of the Scotland national team. During his playing career he played for Cowdenbeath and Heart of Midlothian...
. 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 Dundee United manager
Craig LeveinCraig William Levein is a Scottish former professional footballer and manager of the Scotland national team. During his playing career he played for Cowdenbeath and Heart of Midlothian...
.
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 ParkTannadice Park, usually referred to as Tannadice, is a football stadium located on Tannadice Street in the Scottish city of Dundee. The stadium is home of Dundee United F.C. and has a capacity of 14,209.-Early days :...
. 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."
Buaben made his Dundee United debut in the friendly 2–2 draw against Raith Rovers at Starks Park on Sunday 22 July 2007. "The Prince" was an instant hit with the fan's, despite being lauded by 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
The Times Online said "Two of Levein's cheap discoveries,
Morgaro GomisMorgaro Gomis is a Senegal international footballer who plays for English Football League Championship club Birmingham City....
and Prince Buaben, were outstanding for United against
RangersRangers Football Club are an association football club based in Glasgow, Scotland, who play in the Scottish Premier League. The club are nicknamed the Gers, Teddy Bears and the Light Blues, and the fans are known to each other as bluenoses...
...Both players have brought craft and imagination to the United midfield". Prince was part of the Dundee United team which won the Scottish Cup in their centenary season 2009/2010. In April 2011, Dundee United manager Peter Houston indicated that he expected Buaben to leave the club at the end of the season due to the Terrors being unable to match the players demands.
Buaben joined English
Football League ChampionshipThe Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League...
side
WatfordWatford Football Club is an English professional football club based in Watford, Hertfordshire. It is often referred to as Watford F.C., Watford, or by the team's nickname The Hornets . Watford Rovers, Founded in 1881, entered the FA Cup for the first time in 1886, and the Southern League a decade...
in July 2011, signing a two year contract.
International career
Buaben received his first call-up to
The Black StarsThe Ghana national football team, popularly known as the Black Stars, is the national association football team of Ghana and is controlled by the Ghana Football Association...
of
GhanaGhana , officially the Republic of Ghana, is a country located in West Africa. It is bordered by Côte d'Ivoire to the west, Burkina Faso to the north, Togo to the east, and the Gulf of Guinea to the south...
national squad in March 2008 for the friendly match against
MexicoThe Mexican national football team represents Mexico in association football and is governed by the Mexican Football Federation , the governing body for football in Mexico. Mexico's home stadium is the Estadio Azteca and their head coach is José Manuel de la Torre...
, although he remained an unused substitute during the match.
Career statistics
| Club | |League | |Lg Cup | |Total |
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Dundee United Dundee United Football Club is a Scottish professional football club located in the city of Dundee. Formed in 1909, originally as Dundee Hibernian, the club changed to the present name in 1923...
|
2007–08The 2007-08 season was the 111th season of competitive football in Scotland.-Overview:* Gretna were competing in the Scottish Premier League for the first time, their first ever season in the top-flight, after being promoted as First Division champions the previous season.* Dunfermline Athletic...
|
24 |
3 |
1 |
0 |
5 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
30 |
3 |
2008–09The 2008–09 season was the 112th season of competitive football in Scotland.-Overview:* Hamilton Academical competed in the Scottish Premier League for the first time, their first season in the top-flight since the 1988–89 season, after being promoted as First Division champions the...
|
22 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
25 |
2 |
| 2009–10 |
34 |
2 |
6 |
0 |
3 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
43 |
3 |
| 2010–11 |
35 |
3 |
5 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
44 |
4 |
WatfordWatford Football Club is an English professional football club based in Watford, Hertfordshire. It is often referred to as Watford F.C., Watford, or by the team's nickname The Hornets . Watford Rovers, Founded in 1881, entered the FA Cup for the first time in 1886, and the Southern League a decade...
|
2011–12 |
7 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
8 |
0 |
| Total | 122 | 9 | 14 | 2 | 12 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 150 | 12 |
| Career total | 122 | 9 | 14 | 2 | 12 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 150 | 12 |
Dundee United
- Scottish Cup
The Scottish Football Association Challenge Cup,, commonly known as the Scottish Cup or the William Hill Scottish Cup for sponsorship purposes, is the main national cup competition in Scottish football. It is a knockout cup competition run by and named after the Scottish Football Association.The...
: 1
-
- 2010
- Scottish League Cup
The Scottish League Cup is a football competition open to all Scottish Football League and Scottish Premier League clubs. At present it is also known as the Scottish Communities League Cup owing to the sponsorship deal in place with the Scottish Government. In the past it has been sponsored by...
Runner-up: 1
- 2007–08
The 2007-08 season was the 111th season of competitive football in Scotland.-Overview:* Gretna were competing in the Scottish Premier League for the first time, their first ever season in the top-flight, after being promoted as First Division champions the previous season.* Dunfermline Athletic...
External links