Kojo Apenteng

**Last statistical update: 17:52, 19 June 2023 (UTC)**

**Kojo Apenteng** is a footballer who played for **Hashtag United** (men).

After initially playing football in his neighborhood with friends, Apenteng began playing Sunday League football at around the age of 7 for one season with Ashingdon Youth.

West Ham United
Apenteng was initially scouted through Soccer Schools by West Ham United, with a later approach arriving from a scout representing Charlton Athletic. Apenteng was signed by West Ham United at around the age of 8. He was released roughly 8 years later, after his father rejected a scholarship due to the club failing to offer guarantees surrounding playing time.

Southend United
After leaving West Ham United, Apenteng spent time training with Crystal Palace, Fulham and Stoke City though no move materialised. Soon after, Apenteng joined Southend United's academy.

University of Portsmouth
Following two years with Southend United, Apenteng enrolled at the University of Portsmouth and would regularly feature for their football team; becoming club captain along the way. He later noted that the standard of Uni football was to a lesser quality that he had expected.

Corinthian-Casuals
Apenteng had a short stint with Isthmian League Division One South side Corinthian-Casuals in September/October 2016. He made his first appearance in a home Alan Turvey Trophy victory against Whyteleafe on 13 September, as he featured for the full 90 minutes. His Isthmian League debut arrived on 20 September away to East Grinstead Town, which preceded further appearances against Three Bridges (as a late substitute in place of Juevan Spencer) and Herne Bay (full duration).

Brentwood Town
Ahead of the 2018–19 campaign, Apenteng started featuring for Isthmian League North Division team Brentwood Town. His debut came in an FA Cup first qualifying round home loss to Haringey Borough on 8 September 2018, as he replaced Alfie Hilton with 12 minutes remaining at the Brentwood Centre Arena. He made his league bow off the bench versus Grays Athletic on 15 September, before making his first club start and netting his first senior goal on 18 September during an Alan Turvey Trophy penalty shoot-out win away to future team Barking.

After three further games, Apenteng then netted 5 goals in 7 matches across October and November as he notably notched in three consecutive FA Trophy fixtures against Marlow, Whitstable Town and Poole Town. He ended the season with a total of 9 goals in 41 appearances, having netted in high-scoring matches with AFC Sudbury (twice - 5–3 away loss and 5–2 home win) and Aveley.

Barking
On 22 June 2019, Apenteng moved across to the Isthmian League South Central Division with Barking. He make his first appearance in the league in a 3–1 loss away to Marlow, which would be one of just 3 Isthmian League appearances for him with Barking. His 7 other participations came in cup competitions, having played once in the FA Cup, once in the London Senior Cup, twice in the FA Trophy and three times in the Alan Turvey Trophy. In the latter competition, Apenteng was once substituted on in place of future HTU teammate Kiernan Hughes-Mason. He left Barking on 8 November 2019.

Great Wakering Rovers
On 9 November 2019, Apenteng completed a move to Great Wakering Rovers of the Isthmian League North Division. He was available to debut later that day away to Soham Town Rangers, though eventually wouldn't due a miscommunication between him and the club as to whether he was eligible or not. After missing a midweek Alan Turvey Trophy tie versus Aveley due to being cup-tied, Apenteng belatedly made his first Great Wakering appearance on 16 November and netted his first goal in the process during a 1–1 home league draw with Canvey Island. He'd appear a total of 10 times and score 2 goals (with the other coming in a league win away to Cambridge City on 14 December) in his first season with *Rovers*.

In his second campaign, Apenteng added 8 matches and 2 goals (a brace in a home defeat to Histon on 24 October 2020) to his tallies before departing at some point during the second COVID-19 pandemic-enforced curtailment; the first had ended his debut season early.

### HTU

2021–22
In mid-2021, after a recommendation from Farai Tsingano, Apenteng joined HTU. After appearing in pre-season friendlies versus Bowers & Pitsea, Frenford, Cray Wanderers and Chalfont St Peter, the midfielder made his debut in a 1–1 draw in the Isthmian League North Division at home to Coggeshall Town on 15 August; he was substituted on by Jay Devereux after 80 minutes in place of Jake Lindsey. His first goal for *The Tags* came in a friendly win away to Hertford Town on 30 October. His first competitive goal arrived on 12 February 2022 in a 4–3 defeat on the road against Heybridge Swifts. After grabbing assists against Hullbridge Sports and ex-club Brentwood Town, Apenteng notched his second HTU goal on 19 March versus Stowmarket Town. Overall, he featured 28 times in all competitions, whilst also getting another assist versus another one of his old teams in the shape of Barking on 15 April.

2022–23
After scoring goals past Bowers & Pitsea, Jersey Bulls and Carshalton Athletic in pre-season, Apenteng opened his league goal account with a penalty on 15 August during a 2-1 victory over East Thurrock United. He followed that up with a strike against Tilbury on 17 September. At the season's end, on 17 May 2023, *The Tags* confirmed that Apenteng had departed the club following 60 appearances, 8 goals and 8 assists.

### Post-HTU

Apenteng signed with Brightlingsea Regent - recently relegated to the Isthmian League - North Division - on 19 June 2023.

## Personal Life

Growing up, Apenteng looked up to footballers Thierry Henry and Ashley Young. Speaking on the *We Talk Football Podcast* on 3 November 2020, he stated that his parents prioritised education over football and that possibly led to the changes in his youth career. Away from football, Apenteng has worked for Enterprise and Sony. His brother, Kweku Afari, is a broadcaster, with him appearing on Sky Sports News and talkSPORT.

## HTU Statistics

Breakdown

'*Other Cups' includes competitions like the FA Trophy, the FA Vase and friendly tournaments. See also: HTUwiki:DataIssues.*

Appearances (60)
* List of appearances of Kojo Apenteng

Goals (8)
Hertford Town  v  Hashtag United

Heybridge Swifts  v  Hashtag United

Hashtag United  v  Stowmarket Town

Bowers & Pitsea  v  Hashtag United

Jersey Bulls  v  Hashtag United

Carshalton Athletic  v  Hashtag United

Hashtag United  v  East Thurrock United

Hashtag United  v  Tilbury

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Hashtag United vs Stowmarket Town" , 27 August 2022.
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "Kojo Apenteng" .
3. ↑ 3.00 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 3.10 "Ep. 9 - Movember Miniseries: Kojo & Julian (Ex-West Ham Academy & Southend Pro)" , 14 November 2020.
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 "Kojo Apenteng" .
5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 "Corinthian-Casuals - Appearances - 2016-2017" .
6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 "Brentwood Town - Appearances - 2018-2019" .
7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 "Barking - Appearances - 2019-2020" .
8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 "Great Wakering Rovers - Appearances - 2019-2020" .
9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 "Great Wakering Rovers - Appearances - 2020-2021" .
10. ↑ "KOJO FINDS HIS WAY TO BARKING" , 22 June 2019.
11. ↑ "PLAYER DEPARTURE" , 8 November 2019.
12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 "New signing Kojo Apenteng misses out on making Great Wakering Rovers debut after 'miscommunication'" , 10 November 2019.
13. ↑ "LEAVING THE CLUB #️⃣ Today we can announce that 5 of our current first team are departing the club. We’d like to express our sincere thanks to each of the players for their individual involvement across the last 2 years" , 17 May 2023.
14. ↑ "✍️ 𝙆𝙊𝙅𝙊 𝙄𝙎 𝘼𝙉 𝙍! We are delighted to announce the signing of Kojo Apenteng from Hashtag United. Kojo played 23 times, and is also an Isthmian North Champion 🏆 Welcome @simply\_kojo!" , 19 June 2023.