I pray with my pastor at pitchside before every home game – Antoine Semenyo

Ghana winger Antoine Semenyo has revealed that he holds a brief prayer session at pitchside with his pastor before every home game this season.

The 24-year-old is usually the last Bournemouth player to head into the dressing room after warm up before kick off.

He goes in search of a season ticket holder he calls Pastor John, who ministers at a nearby church, to pray together. He will do so again on Saturday evening when the Cherries host Arsenal.

“I dropped my pastor a couple of messages before the season started,” Semenyo told The Athletic.

“I said, ‘Look, I want to pray more before the game starts’. He proposed that he could wait by the side of the pitch before the game and if I see him I can run over to him, quickly pray and then go inside.

“I did it once and have continued doing it.”

Semenyo has had a great start to the new Premier League season, scoring three goals and providing one assist.