ANTOINE SEMENYO excels when he charges at defenders instead of dealing with a faucet.
The dynamic forward for Manchester City has experienced an incredible rise—transitioning from non-league Bath to the World Cup within just eight years.
Semenyo made his tournament debut during Ghana’s 1-0 victory over Panama last week and seeks to spoil England’s aspirations in Boston on Tuesday.
His former teammates at Bath City will be cheering him on—especially Jack Batten, who lent support during tough times at Bath after Semenyo was loaned there by Bristol City in 2018.
This experience paved the way for Semenyo’s inclusion in the first team at Ashton Gate, leading to his move to Bournemouth before he joined City in January.
Though he had a stellar stint at Bath, Semenyo, 26, faced a few mishaps involving faucets.
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Batten shared with SunSport: “He was mostly punctual, except for one instance when I picked him up. He hurried down the path flustered because he had left a faucet running in the bathroom, resulting in a kitchen flood.”
“It’s amusing to think about me giving Antoine rides to National League South matches in my VW Scirocco, and now he’s speeding through life as an international player at the highest level.”
“I lived just two minutes from his lodging, at ex-Bristol City midfielder Gary Owers’ house in Chipping Sodbury, so I frequently drove him to games.
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“These journeys often required very early starts for away games, but they were enjoyable because we had great conversations.
“Nothing chaotic like the Inbetweeners on the road—it was calm and collected.
“Antoine was always polite and opened up more as he got to know everyone.”
On the field, Batten and his teammates observed Semenyo’s swift development, as his talents began to shine.
He added: “Antoine was very grounded and hardworking, albeit a bit raw initially. I wasn’t certain if he would become a winger or a striker, but he was significantly strong for his age, and seasoned players often struggled against him.”
“He’s excelled tremendously in such a competitive arena, and while I expected he would succeed with us, I didn’t foresee him reaching such heights.”
“The goals he has netted for Bristol City, Bournemouth, and Man City remind me of his Bath days—marked by his incredible balance and effortless power.”
“His growth has been remarkable—he’s become stronger, and when he dribbles or moves, he’s difficult to contain, as we’ve witnessed this season.”
Batten, who still plays for Bath, has mixed feelings about Semenyo taking on England.
When asked about his ideal outcome, he said: “I hope Antoine scores, and as long as we score one more than Ghana, I’ll be happy.”
“I’m proud to be English, but you always wish well for your good-hearted friends who work hard for the team.”
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This year’s World Cup is historic as a record 48 nations compete for football’s most coveted trophy.
England manager Thomas Tuchel is determined to finally bring football home after a 60-year drought.
However, football legends Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have their own aspirations in what could be their final World Cup appearance.
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