A new US U18 callup: Congratulations to Owen Otasowie who has been selected to travel to America for a training camp with the USA U18s. #WolvesAcademy pic.twitter.com/yhHqaHiZlt— Wolves Academy (@WolvesAcademy) November 17, 2017 From O When The Yanks/USA Prospects: According to All Nigeria Soccer, Owen is eligible for the USA, England, and Nigeria: http://www.allnigeriasoccer.com/read_news.php?nid=25484 Transfermarkt claims that he plays in AM, CM, and DM for Wolverhampton in the U18 Premier League. He has one goal this season. https://www.transfermarkt.com/owen-...1815/saison/2017/wettbewerb/GB18/verein/12801 | GOAL | Wolves U18s 2 Newcastle United U18s 2 Wolves U18s back level from a great Owen Otasowie goal 2-2 #WolvesAcademy pic.twitter.com/QjLo7wApir— Andy Hipkins (@AndrewDHipkins) October 21, 2017 Unclear how exactly Owen is eligible for the US. It could possibly be like Ayo Akinola and Gboly Ariyibi (both also of Nigerian descent), born in the US but moved abroad at an early age.
Wolverhampton U-18s are 8th in the table playing in the U-18 PL north division - https://www.premierleague.com/tables?team=U18&co=17&se=96
Here are some Wolves U18 video highlights vs. Newcastle. The sequence leading to Owen's goal starts at 3:08, and he makes another nice play beginning at 3:30. He's a big CM for his age, 6-foot-2 and 183 pounds.
Saw his name on the list and came here to see if anyone knew he existed. This is a nice surprise. Good scouting work from the federation.
They also say we tried to call him in before but he couldn't come. They aren't clear, but I would assume this meant for the old U16s -- it could, however, maybe also mean the last U17 cycle. He has more than 5,000 followers on Instagram. Go, young man, go! https://www.instagram.com/otasowie.88/ His U18 manager at Wolves was very happy with him in May: https://www.wolves.co.uk/news/academy/20170516-positives-to-take/
Wolves Subs @Tayperry8 & @ryangiles7 replaced by Owen Otasowie & Callum Thompson Good games from Taylor and Ryan #WolvesAcademy— Andy Hipkins (@AndrewDHipkins) December 2, 2017 Got some time vs Man U U-18s Then some more time a few weeks ago. 83’ Owen Otasowie comes on for Wolves. He replaces @Tayperry8.— Wolves Academy (@WolvesAcademy) December 14, 2017
Back with our U18s; appears he was born in New York: https://www.ussoccer.com/stories/20...it-brings-153-players-together-in-single-camp MIDFIELDERS (10): Taylor Booth (Unattached; Eden, Utah), Cameron Duke (Sporting Kansas City; Overland Park, Kan.), Hunter George (Sacramento Republic F.C.; Lincoln, Calif.), Roberto Hategan (Sacramento Republic F.C.; Chicago, Ill.), Aidan Morris (Columbus Crew; Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.), Owen Otasowie (Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.; New York, N.Y.), Marcelo Palomino (Houston Dynamo; Houston, Texas), Stuart Ritchie (FC Groningen; Pleaston, Calif.), Lawson Sunderland (Levante UD; Portland, Ore.), Will Vint (Manchester United F.C.; Chester, England)
Some photos of him at the US summit camp: http://isiphotos.photoshelter.com/i...DbItTE4uSM9ScQSoAI8glgw--I_IDI0000mhn9P3QYngk
That article suggests that he got to Wolves with the help of something called MASS Elite that seemed to be geared toward young English players. https://www.linkedin.com/in/mass-elite-academy-9b932457/
Namazi Calls in 24 Players for Pair of U-18 Matches vs. Costa Rica U.S. U-18 MNT Roster by Position: GOALKEEPERS (3): David Ochoa (Real Salt Lake; Oxnard, Calif.), Jacob Schick (Chargers Soccer Club; Palm Harbor, Fla.), Kris Shakes (Philadelphia Union; Austin, Texas) DEFENDERS (6): Julian Araujo (Barca Academy; Lompoc, Calif.), Nico Benalcazar (New York City FC; Wilton, Conn.), Ian Hoffmann (Karlsuher SC; Karlsruher, Germany), Nelson Martinez (D.C. United; Woodbrigde, Va.), David Mendoza (Chicago Fire; Gage Park, Ill.), Leonardo Sepulveda (LA Galaxy; Corona, Calif.) MIDFIELDERS (9): Taylor Booth (Unattached; Eden, Utah), Cameron Duke (Sporting KC; Overland Park, Kan.) Roberto Hategan (Sacramento Republic F.C.; Chicago, Ill.), Aidan Morris (Crew SC Academy; Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.), Owen Otasowie (Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.; New York, N.Y.), Marcelo Palomino (Houston Dynamo; Houston, Texas), Stuart Ritchie (FC Groningen; Pleaston, Calif.) Thomas Roberts (FC Dallas; Little Rock, Ark.), Indiana Vassilev (Aston Villa F.C.; Savannah, Ga.) FORWARDS (6): Konrad De La Fuente (FC Barcelona; Barcelona, Spain), Jalen Hawkins (FC Bayern Munich; Regensburg, Germany), Ulysses Llanez (LA Galaxy; Lynwood, Calif.), Bryan Reynolds (FC Dallas; Frisco, Texas), Jose Rivas (Crew SC Academy; Weston, Fla.), Stefan Stojanovic (Sockers FC; Chicago, Ill.)
Started today in a 2-0 loss to Sunderland Here is the team for this morning's @PLYouth fixture between Wolves U18s and Sunderland U18s at the Academy of Light. #WolvesAcademy 📋👇 pic.twitter.com/SLgvr3rKpH— Wolves Academy (@WolvesAcademy) February 3, 2018
Started for the U18s: Wolves U18s team vs @ManUtd in the #U18PL KO 1pm at Compton Park U16 leftback and new scholar Lewis Richards makes his first U18s start after a subsitute debut last week @austinsamuels99 returns from injury after scoring twice vs @ConquestAcademy on Saturday#WolvesAcademy pic.twitter.com/AigVcjqLUU— Andy Hipkins (@AndrewDHipkins) March 13, 2018 Came out around the 72nd minute: | Substitution | Owen Otasowie & @austinsamuels99 are replaced by Taylor Townsend & @todd_parker8 #WolvesAcademy— Andy Hipkins (@AndrewDHipkins) March 13, 2018
On the bench for the U23s: Wolves U23s vs @OfficialECFC teamsheet in the #U23PLCup 👇#WolvesAcademy pic.twitter.com/alwa2es5h5— Andy Hipkins (@AndrewDHipkins) March 21, 2018
It's always hard to judge player promotions that happen during an international window. Let's see if he continues to play with the squad.
He's also a man, physically already at 17. Probably makes it a little easier to call him up knowing he's not going to get knocked around.
Starts for U23s: Wolves U23s team vs Blackburn Rovers U23s in #PL2 Kick off 7pm Molineux Stadium Congratulations to Wolves U18s players @austinsamuels99 & Owen Otasowie on the starts and Diego Lattie @azacrabtree & @ttownsend99 on been included on the bench.#WolvesAcademy pic.twitter.com/05R7gyF2ML— Andy Hipkins (@AndrewDHipkins) March 26, 2018
| Substitution | Owen Otasowie is replaced by @JordanAllan_9 Solid game from U18s midfielder Otasowie #WolvesAcademy— Andy Hipkins (@AndrewDHipkins) March 26, 2018