KAMLOOPS – With the eighth pick in the first round of the Canadian Premier League – U SPORTS draft, Atletico Ottawa selected TRU WolfPack standout Akwasi Agyekum.
 
"He is very strong and physical, an excellent defender and the offensive side of his game is starting to come around," said WolfPack head coach John Antulov on Agyekum. "The big assets for him are his defensive play, his strength and his quickness."
 
Starting every game for the national champion WolfPack this year, the defensive midfielder was a force to be reckoned with throughout the season before really excelling at the U SPORTS National Championship.
 
Playing a massive role in the title run that saw the team win their quarter-final, semifinal and gold medal matches in shootout fashion, Agyekum was named the Nike Team Top Performer in two of those games before also being honoured as the championship MVP.
 
"It was huge to be able to have a player that could shut opposing teams down in the centre of the park," said Antulov on Agyekum's impact at the tournament. "He was also able to put teams under bother by being direct when he was in possession of the ball, his overall game started to come to the forefront at nationals and he was a big key to us winning."
 
Named to the Canada West All-Rookie team in 2021, the product of Calgary becomes the second member of the 'Pack to be selected in the CPL – U SPORTS draft after Jan Pirretas Glasmacher was chosen third overall by Pacific FC in 2019.
 
Agyekum will join an Ottawa squad that has been in the CPL since 2020.
 
"He isn't close to hitting his ceiling yet, he's only going to keep getting better and grow as a player," said Antulov. "This benefits our program immensely in him becoming even more of a top-notch player, but also with him able to now help the younger players grow and develop. It's massive for him and massive for our program."