Kingsley Mensah "Fifi" Baiden (born November 11, 1991) is a Ghanaian former professional footballer who is currently a coach with the UC Santa Barbara Gauchos men's soccer team.
Video Fifi Baiden
Early life and education
Baiden was born November 11, 1991, in Ajumako, Ghana. He was a member of Ghana-based Right to Dream Academy, which he joined around the age of 10. To help his family financially, Baiden would sell kerosene amongst other odd jobs. He describes his early life:
Growing up in Ghana was tough. I grew up in a poor household where food and education was scarce. Soccer was one of the gateways for poor children to create opportunities for themselves from that poor environment.
He earned a scholarship to Dunn School in Los Olivos, California for Fall 2007. With Dunn, he captured three-straight MVP awards. He earned an athletic scholarship to the University of California, Santa Barbara and played four years of college soccer for the UC Santa Barbara Gauchos men's soccer team.
Maps Fifi Baiden
Playing career
In January 2014, Baiden was drafted in the 3rd round (42nd overall) of the 2014 MLS SuperDraft by the Columbus Crew. He became the second Right to Dream Academy member to be drafted into MLS after former UCSB teammate Michael Tetteh. After playing for them in preseason, he was officially signed in February 2014.
Baiden made his professional debut on March 30, 2014, when he appeared on loan for the Columbus Crew's USL Pro affiliate club Dayton Dutch Lions in a 0-3 loss against New York Red Bulls Reserves.
Baiden would return to make one appearance for the Columbus Crew on May 31, 2014. In July 2014, he was placed on the season-ending injured reserve list due to a torn acetabular labrum. Baiden was waived at the conclusion of the season.
Coaching career
Baiden was named as a volunteer assistant coach with the UC Santa Barbara Gauchos men's soccer team in August 2015.
Personal life
Baiden was named as a Humanitarian Ambassador for MAP International in August 2014 for his efforts in the 2014 West African Ebola virus epidemic.
References
External links
- MLS player profile
- Columbus Crew player profile
- USL PRO player profile
- UC Santa Barbara player profile
- Right to Dream Academy player profile
Source of article : Wikipedia
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