Ansu Toure

Ansou Toure

File:Ansu-toure-2009-04-08.jpg
Personal information
Full name	Ansou Toure
Date of birth	(1981-10-18) 18 October 1981
Place of birth	Monrovia, Liberia
Height
Position(s)	Forward
Team information
Current team	Persiba Balikpapan
Youth career
	Genesis Football Club
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2006	St. Paul Twin Stars	14	(27)
2006–2007	Minnesota Thunder	34	(6)
2007–2008	Atlanta Silverbacks	19	(6)
2008	Miami FC	8	(0)
2009–2010	Vancouver Whitecaps	37	(2)
2011	FC Locarno	21	(5)
2012–2013	FC Vestsjælland	11	(0)
2014–	Persiba Balikpapan	19	(9)
International career‡
1994	Liberia U-14	3	(0)
1995	Liberia U-15	6	(0)
2001–2002	Liberia U-20	5	(0)
2011–	Liberia	10	(1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 15 March 2014 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 23 June 2013

Ansu Toure (born 18 October 1981) is a Liberian footaller who currently plays for Persiba Balikpapan in the Indonesia Super League.

Career

Youth and Amateur

Toure played five years of youth soccer with Genesis Football Club in his native Liberia, before moving with his family to St. Paul, Minnesota, in 1999. He graduated from Park Center Senior High School in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, before taking courses in sport management at North Hennepin Community College in 2005 and 2006. The midfielder's elementary school in Liberia was known as 'Mission for Today'. Toure also netted 27 goals in 14 appearances for the St. Paul Twin Stars in the National Premier Soccer League in 2006.

Professional

Toure first entered the United Soccer Leagues First Division with Minnesota Thunder in July 2006, and in two seasons with the Thunder, Toure scored six goals and added one assist in 34 appearances. Prior to the start of his second season in Minnesota, Toure played in eight preseason matches during a two-month trial with New York Red Bulls of Major League Soccer. During his spell with the Red Bulls, Toure scored a goal against Houston Dynamo as well as the game-winner against D.C. United. Bruce Arena commented on Toure that he had a nice hard shot and was getting better every week. Despite Toure impressing Red Bulls coach Arena he was not offered a contract.

Toure transferred to the Atlanta Silverbacks in 2008, eventually scoring six goals and recording four assists in 19 matches. Two of Toure's six goals last season came in Atlanta's 3–2 loss to the Whitecaps on 10 August. Four days after the Whitecaps match, Toure was traded to Miami FC for midfielder Sean Cameron. As a member of the Blues, the winger assisted on one goal during his eight appearances.

On 21 January 2009 Toure joined Vancouver Whitecaps, signing a two-year contract. He scored his first goal for the team on 9 June 2010 against the Carolina RailHawks.

In February 2011, Toure signed a deal with Swiss Challenge League club FC Locarno. After releasing from Locarno, he joined Danish 1st Division side FC Vestsjaelland on 2 July 2012.

International

Toure has played for the U-14, U-15 and U-20 Liberian national teams. Toure has also received a call-up to Liberia's senior side, but was unable to attend due to club commitments. In 2013, he represented Liberia in 2014 World Cup qualifiers against Uganda and Senegal.

Personal

Toure received his United States citizenship in 2007, but continues to hold Liberian sporting nationality due to his youth and senior call-ups.

External links

• Vancouver Whitecaps profile