Just as many of us were getting ready for a new school and all the changes that go with middle school, Caleb Asamoah of the men’s soccer team had that experience and much more. Asamoah’s family left his birthplace of Ghana when he was in middle school, to eventually settle in a small town by the name of Briarcliff Manor.

At the time, he knew nobody in the town but was able to use his love of the game of soccer as an outlet.

“Soccer has been a huge part of my life from a very young age,” Asamoah said. “Coming to the states, it helped me build relationships with friends and I cherish every moment I made through soccer.”

Using athletics as a way to build relationships and strong bonds is very common for those who do not necessarily know that many people. There are endless stories of kids spending hours at the field or rink, practicing and making friends. The hard work paid off for Asamoah, who played for the Briarcliff High School varsity team. Through hours of practice, Asamoah became one of the best players in program history. He set the record for most goals in a career at Briarcliff, leading the team to two league titles. 

Asamoah’s humble nature came to life when reminiscing over his high school years. Despite being an all-state nominee, he does not dwell on this.

“When I went there, we had a great group of guys,” Asamoah said. “Just hard work. Us putting in the work everyday to be the best we can.”

Rather than focusing on himself, Asamoah always seems to defer to his teammates, at any level of the sport. For someone of Asamoah’s talent level, that is a bit of a surprise. He has been one of the better players on Oswego State since head coach Dan Kane became his coach as a sophomore. 

“When coach Kane came, everyone here tried out for the team again,” Asamoah said. “He selected a few guys to move on, and it’s an honor to be playing for him.”

Asamoah led the team in goals last season with three, while scoring eight as a sophomore. Kane recognized Asamoah’s talent as a sophomore and rewarded him with significant playing time. Despite the talent, Kane knew Asamoah could be even better.

“I saw a really talented player, but he was also kind of out of shape,” Kane said. “We got on him right [from the] get go and [said], ‘Hey, you have the potential to do some great things, but you’ve got to increase your fitness level.’”

It appears as if Asamoah has taken that focus on fitness to heart. Kane described him more recently as someone who “spends a lot of time in the weight room.” Even Asamoah always seems to speak on maintaining a level of fitness and constantly growing game after game. Asamoah compliments Kane for bringing that out of him and the rest of this Lakers team.

“Kane [does] a lot for us,” Asamoah said. “He challenged us to be the best we can and just keep helping each and everyone on the team.”

When it comes to helping the team, Asamoah is a leader in a different manner. He is a quiet and mildly-spoken person, who happens to be extremely genuine. Because of this, the senior is not the loud mouth who pumps up the entire team as they race out of the locker room. Asamoah brings his soccer intelligence to the forefront during scrimmages, games and practices, imparting his wisdom on the rest of the team.

“He’s an extremely insightful player,” Kane said. “He does have really good individual communciation with the other forwards and with the midfielders.”

With eight freshmen on the roster, including two forwards, Asamoah has been integral in teaching them on and off the field. While freshman striker Steven Rojas has a slightly different style of play, he has gravitated towards Asamoah. In just seven games, the duo have built a strong relationship. Of the six goals Asamoah has scored, Rojas has recorded assists on three of them. This type of relationship is critical for offensive success. The two need to understand where the other will be on the field at all times in order to pass the ball effectively.

“He’s linked up a lot with Steven Rojas,” Kane said. “And Kieran Gilroy has started to find him, as well. It’s kind of like a wide receiver in football. You’re reliant on that quarterback to get you the ball, so that relationship is an important relationship. As a forward, you’re reliant upon the guys around you.”

Dating back to freshman year, it was clear that Asamoah was the real deal. He was very noticeable in practices early on, something that is a good thing for offensive players.

“I was like ‘wow, he’s a really good player,’” senior midfielder Anthony Paris said. “Strong forward, can hold up the ball [well]. He’s got good tactical skills and can drive at defenders.”

While he is all-business on the field, Asamoah knows how to have fun. For him, the soccer field has been almost like a safe place, dating back to his first few years in America. That fun that he had is something he wishes to pass onto the underclassmen on the roster.

“Just keep having fun,” Asamoah said. “We work hard, we play hard.”

Photo by Casey Stone |  The  Oswegonian