AFC Totton
LONG-TERM FANS OF AFC TOTTON will need no introduction to the latest recruit to Jimmy Ball’s ranks. Powerful centre-forward Silvano Obeng has agreed to return to the club that he served between 2019 and 2021 with distinction and plenty of goals, re-joining on a permanent deal to help boost The Stags’ push for promotion.
As a teenager, Silvano had a trial with Brescia in the Lombardy region of Northern Italy, before arriving in English football in 2014 as a member of Kettering Town’s U21 squad. He was originally brought to AFC Totton by then-manager Louis Langdown, for whom he estimates his goalscoring tally to be in the region of 30-40 goals in all competitions.
But by the time non-league football had returned from the hiatus forced upon it by the COVID-19 pandemic in the summer of 2021, Silvano had lost his place in the team under new manager Glenn Howes in the face of stiff competition from the likes of Hisham Kasimu and Brett Williams. So, the 26-year-old Solent University graduate of Sports Therapy moved on to light up the Wessex League Premier Division with a hatful of goals for Brockenhurst, helping them to a 6th-place finish and to silverware in the shape of the Russell-Cotes Cup.
He scored twice in the Final against Hamble Club at Brockenhurst’s own Meadens Skoda Arena on Grigg Lane, and he was also pulled down inside the area to earn his side a penalty. Two late goals from The Monks resulted in a 4-4 draw that took the match to penalties, but The Badgers triumphed in the end to lift the trophy.
Two days later, Silvano was in attendance watching his old teammates defeat Folland Sports in the Final of the Southampton Senior Cup at St. Mary’s Stadium, where he joined in the post-match celebrations by posing for a photograph with his friends Shaquille Gwengwe (left) and Jordan Ragguette (right).
His exploits in the New Forest kept Silvano on Jimmy Ball’s radar; the striker’s name was listed on a whiteboard in the manager’s office, alongside the names of several other players who signed for The Stags in the summer. But Winchester City boss Craig Davis managed to persuade the hitman to join his newly-promoted Citizens in the Southern League Premier Division South, after their promotion play-off success at the end of last season, and Silvano played one of his first games for City at the Snows Stadium in a pre-season friendly.
Nobody at the Charters Community Stadium would have gone into this season with any illusions about how difficult it would be to compete at Step 3, and the goals have proven much harder to come by for both the team and the player, alike. Silvano – who is listed as Darko Obeng on the Southern League’s website, a name he shares with his father – has registered league goals against Harrow Borough, Truro City, Hendon and Swindon Supermarine, plus three in the FA Cup. But despite being frequently involved throughout the campaign, he has featured as a second-half substitute as often as he has been named in the starting XI. At the time of writing, Winchester City are currently 16th of 22 in the Southern League Premier Division, with 22 points and 27 goals from 20 matches, enough to keep them hovering just above the relegation zone.
Asked to describe his own style of play, Silvano identifies his abilities to hold the ball up, link with teammates and get on the end of chances as a goalscoring poacher – “Like Romelu Lukaku but with a better first touch!” he jokes.
The fact that Winchester City kindly waived the regulation seven-day notice period between Totton making their approach for Silvano and being allowed to speak to the player means the centre-forward is eligible to make his second AFC Totton debut at Melksham Town this weekend. And he is very much looking forward to renewing his acquaintance with the club and its fans.
“It’s exciting to be coming back here, especially now when the squad looks so strong. I want to add as much as possible to the strength of this team and I’m keen to get in amongst the lads and to start bonding with them. It’s great to be back here – and I can’t wait to start scoring goals for AFC Totton, again!”
Silvano is a devout Pentecostal Christian, whose faith comes through loud and clear on his Facebook page. Asked whether he would like to make reference to his faith in this introductory article, he pointed me to scripture, specifically Jeremiah 29:11: “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, to give you a future and a hope.”
Welcome back to AFC Totton, Silvano Obeng!
By Ben Rochey-Adams
Image courtesy of Craig Hobbs Photography
