(World cup 2014) Ezekiel Ansah – The famous Ghanian player

Ezekiel Ansah, born May 29, 1989 in Ghana, is an American football player expertise in defense end. He plays for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL). As a youth, he has played soccer and has never seen American football. In his youth, he was also playing basketball in addition to soccer. His caliber in basketball gained the attention of missionaries and was baptized at the age of 18.  Ansah developed friendship with Frei, an LDS Church missionary, who taught him and baptized him. Frei returned to the United States and suggested Ansah to come over to the United States and try his fortunes in becoming a basketball player.

Ansah took active participation in sports such as basketball, field and track events and on graduating High school in Ghana, joined as a teaching assistant and trained people in basketball. On getting a scholarship from Brigham Young University, he moved to the United States but could not be successful in the basketball teams. Later, during sophomore and junior seasons, he continued with his football with the college team and in 2012, he resumed his role of situation player.

It was March 2013, when reports about Ansah’s age started to circulate and questioned its accuracy. However, his passport shows 29th May 1989 as his date of birth. The Detroit Lions drafted Ansah for the NFL draft (in 2013). Ansah also signed a contract of 5 years (Rookie contract) on 10th May 2013 with the Detriot Lions. Finally, he persuaded a BYU Cougars football team and played for the Cougars from 2010. Ansah was also named as “Mel Farr” – 2013’s Rookie, honoring the best Detroit’s rookie. Born as the youngest amongst the 5 children his father had, Ansah is an active member of the LDS church.

It is a matter of speculation to all us to see whether as a Detroit Lions defensive end and a former star of BYU, he will have more enthusiasm  in the 2014 world cup match between the United States and Ghana and he would be cheering Ghana as a native of Ghana or cheering United States, the current home country.