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In this episode of the Football For Kids Podcast, Darren Rees tells the inspiring story of Antoine Semenyo – the Bournemouth goal-scoring machine and Ghana international.

Born in Chelsea in the year 2000, Semenyo’s journey has been anything but easy. From kicking a ball in the park with his dad, facing rejection after rejection at clubs like Arsenal, Tottenham and Crystal Palace, and even nearly giving up football completely… to finally breaking through with Bristol City, battling through tough loan spells in non-league and the lower leagues, and then becoming a multi-million pound Premier League player with AFC Bournemouth.

We’ll hear how Semenyo grew up watching the Africa Cup of Nations on TV with his family, dreaming of heroes like Didier Drogba and Asamoah Gyan – and how that dream came true when he went on to wear the Ghana shirt himself at international level.

But this episode doesn’t stop at the goals and glory. We also talk about the serious issue of racism in football. On 15 August 2025, Semenyo was racially abused while playing at Anfield. We explain why this is so wrong, why racism has no place in football or anywhere, and how kids can learn to always choose kindness, bravery, and respect.

👉 Perfect for kids and families who love football, this episode is about never giving up, chasing your dreams, and standing up for what’s right.

If you love football stories and want to be inspired, then you won’t want to miss this episode about Antoine Semenyo.

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