College

Akpan set for international stage By Andrew Hush
January 17, 2007

It has been quite a six months for Andre Akpan. First, the Harvard freshman made an instant impact with the Crimson, scoring eleven goals and adding twelve assists in his first year as John Kerr's side won the Ivy League championship.

Unsurprisingly, Akpan was a unanimous choice as the Ivy League's Rookie of the Year and was named to the All-Ivy first team. The Texan's performances also caught the attention of USA Under-20 head coach, Thomas Rongen, who called the 6', 190lb forward into his side's pre-Christmas training camp.

Andre Akpan (Harvard media relations)

A month later and Akpan is currently in Panama, where the USA will today kick-off their campaign to qualify for this summer's FIFA World Youth Championships with a game against Haiti. Akpan won a place on a squad that boasts thirteen professional players, including Amaechi Igwe, who was drafted by the Revolution in last week's SuperDraft, following some impressive showings in the team's recent get-togethers.

Akpan has been involved in the youth national set-up before and won his first U-20 cap in January 2006. However, despite that previous experience, he admits he knew that nothing was guaranteed when he reported to that first December camp, though he always knew that making the final roster was his main target:

“That was my ultimate goal. I knew I could compete but I didn't know if I was exactly what the coaches were looking for and what they needed but I was hopeful. I worked hard and it worked out.”

He certainly did work hard. As coverage on the US Soccer website's ‘Roster Spot' program detailed, while Akpan's speed was obvious – he was a clear winner of the squad's 40-yard sprint contest – his endurance was not. After a less than satisfactory display in the dreaded ‘bleep test', the players were given time off before reporting for the next camp. Akpan took the chance to work out alone.

“In that first week and a half camp we worked a lot on fitness as a team. We went back home for a few days after that and I did some more work on my fitness at home.”

Having brought himself to a level of fitness that he and his coaches are much happier with, Akpan kicked on from his promising performance in the first camp and made it impossible for Rongen to leave him out of his travel party. Though he is aware that his playing opportunities may be limited to a role off the bench in the coming week – Johann Smith and Josmer Altidore are the probable starting strikers – Akpan is certain that he can help his side be successful:

“We have kind of figured out our roles on the team and worked out our starting eleven. The chances are that I am not going to be starting but my aim is, if the coach calls me, to come in and try and score a couple of goals. I'll do whatever I can to help the team qualify.”

Akpan admits that he is keen to follow in the footsteps of Smith and Altidore, as well as team captain, Freddy Adu, and turn professional himself one day. Being involved in the national team set-up for an extended level of time has shown him what it will take to make it to the next level:

“There are a bunch of guys that are already playing professionally and coaches that are professional. You are playing to stay on the team so every day and every practice counts.”

The experience the USA have is likely to be vital in Panama during the next week. Today's game is followed by a match-up with Guatemala on Friday, before Rongen's side rounds out its schedule with an encounter against the host nation on Sunday. Akpan believes his side's experience, savvy and know-how will help it get through what is set to be a hostile environment:

“It's going to help us. In the past, most of the US teams have had pro players on the team and it will help us here too, especially playing against other countries that have a lot of similar players. They show a lot of leadership and some of them have already played in the under-20 World Cup.

“A lot of the guys on the team have played in those atmospheres with national teams. Most places we go there are anti-USA chants. That adds to it and it doesn't get better than going into (an opponent's) house and beating them when they are screaming at you.”

If the pressure of having to qualify for the most prestigious youth national tournament in the world was not enough, Akpan is set to be put under strain of a different kind while he is away, as he explains:

“The week that I am in Panama is actually the week that I am supposed to have my exams at Harvard. I am going to have to take a few there and have one of the team managers invigilating. I have a couple of essays that I need to finish up and email to the teachers.”

Pressure? What pressure? In the past six months, Andre Akpan has passed every test he has faced on the field with flying colors. You get the impression that he will approach his off-field commitments with the same confidence and return from Panama with more notable achievements to add to his growing resume.