| For Kossi Agassa, the rangy Togolese goalkeeper, football began as a means of escape on the streets of Lome. He started out as a defender in local tournaments, where his long legs enabled him to consistently get the better of opposition forwards. Then, just when his towering height had his friends encouraging him to take up basketball, he discovered his future lay between the posts. He happened to play in goal one day in a game with friends and realised it was meant to be. His size and agility soon became legendary in and around Lome and drew the attention of scouts from Etoile Filante, one of the biggest clubs in the country. Agassa was 19 years’ old when he was snapped up by the Etoilistes (Stars) in 1997, while Agaza, the capital's other big club, were left kicking themselves at having let the talented 'keeper slip through their fingers. He performed so well over the next three seasons, both on the national and continental scene, that many other big African clubs began to show an interest. Consequently, in 2000 he upped sticks and went to the Côte d'Ivoire to play for Africa Sports National, a club with a long tradition of foreign goalies. The Cameroonian Joseph-Antoine Bell, the Congolese Brice Samba and the Ivorian Alain Gouamene have all kept goal for the 'Green and Reds'. At the time, the first choice custodian was Jean-Jacques Tizie, the current Côte d'Ivoire 'keeper. He was soon signed by Esperance of Tunisia, leaving the gloves to Kossi Agassa. However, Agassa would only spend one season in Abidjan before receiving an offer from FC Metz, for whom he signed in February of 2000. As third choice behind Jacques Songo'o and Ludovic Butelle, he spent some time acclimatising and getting used to the French style of play. But the presence in France of his compatriot Emmanuel Adebayor helped him get over his homesickness. Agassa is currently in his fourth season at FC Metz and, while he has not made regular appearances for his club side, he has the consolation of being first choice for Togo. At 28, he is one of the Hawks’ veterans, together with captain Abalo Yaovi and striker Kader Coubadja. Agile and flexible, with very quick reflexes, he inspires confidence in his team-mates. And while he still needs to work on his timing when coming out for crosses, his great height (1.93m) makes him a dominant presence in the penalty area. An ever-present throughout the qualifiers, Agassa was, together with Emmanuel Adebayor, an essential catalyst for the Sparrow Hawks' inaugural qualification for the FIFA World Cup Germany 2006™. Popular in his country as a worthy successor to Wake Nibombe, Agassa's aims to breathe new life into his career while helping Togo transfer their African successes onto the global stage.
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