Ernest Inneh
Encyclopedia
Ernest Inneh is a retired Nigerian-American soccer player who currently overseas the Westchester Flames
youth system. He scored the only goal in the final of the 1991 U.S. Open Cup
.
where he played on the men’s soccer team from 1988 to 1991. In addition to playing collegiate soccer, Inneh also played for the Brooklyn Italians in the Cosmopolitan Soccer League
. On August 10, 1991, he scored the winning goal for the Brooklyn Italians in the final of the 1991 U.S. Open Cup
. He then signed with the Penn-Jersey Spirit
of the American Professional Soccer League
. He played one game with the team on August 24, 1991.
Inneh then pursued a successful career in Greece playing with Greek first division club Korinthos F.C.
, where he famously scored against Olympiakos CFP. Korinthos were relegated following the 1992–93 season, and Inneh played for the club in the Greek second division
. Poised for a move to one of the big three in Greece, Inneh injured his knee and required surgery. He returned to play in the Greek third division
with Agios Nikolaos F.C. during the 1994–95 season. He joined Greek second division club Panelefsiniakos F.C.
in 1996.
Inneh then returned to continue his career in the United States. In 1997, he signed with the Long Island Rough Riders
of the USISL half way through the season, scoring nine goals in eleven games. On February 1, 1998, the Dallas Burn selected Inneh in the second round (twenty-second overall) of the 1998 MLS Supplemental Draft
. The Burn did not sign Inneh and he returned to the Rough Riders, but was unable to replicate his scoring feats through thirteen games. On August 14, 1998, Long Island traded Inneh to the Staten Island Vipers
in exchange for Roberto Deluca. He remained with the Vipers in 1999, earning A-League First XI honors after scoring eighteen goals in twenty-four games. In February 2000, the Tampa Bay Mutiny
selected Inneh in the sixth round of the 2000 MLS SuperDraft. The Mutiny waived him on April 20, 2000. He then signed with the Westchester Flames
in the Premier Development League. At the end of the season, he went on loan with the Rochester Rhinos as they entered the playoffs. The Rhinos won the USL A-League championship. In 2001, he was back with Westchester, playing with the team through the 2004 season.
Westchester Flames
Westchester Flames is an American soccer team based in New Rochelle, New York, United States. Founded in 1999, the team plays in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the Mid Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference.The team plays its home games...
youth system. He scored the only goal in the final of the 1991 U.S. Open Cup
1991 U.S. Open Cup
- Regional Semifinals :*I Cambridge Faialense SC 1-3 Brooklyn Italians *I Fairfax Spartans 5-0 Vereinigung Erzgebirge *II RWB Adria W-L Fort Wayne SC *II Madison 56ers 1-0 St...
.
Playing career
Inneh, a native of Nigeria, attended Brooklyn CollegeBrooklyn College
Brooklyn College is a senior college of the City University of New York, located in Brooklyn, New York, United States.Established in 1930 by the New York City Board of Higher Education, the College had its beginnings as the Downtown Brooklyn branches of Hunter College and the City College of New...
where he played on the men’s soccer team from 1988 to 1991. In addition to playing collegiate soccer, Inneh also played for the Brooklyn Italians in the Cosmopolitan Soccer League
Cosmopolitan Soccer League
The Cosmopolitan Soccer League is an amateur soccer league consisting of clubs based in and around New York City. Established in 1923, it is one of the oldest soccer leagues in the United States and has contributed greatly to the nation's soccer history...
. On August 10, 1991, he scored the winning goal for the Brooklyn Italians in the final of the 1991 U.S. Open Cup
1991 U.S. Open Cup
- Regional Semifinals :*I Cambridge Faialense SC 1-3 Brooklyn Italians *I Fairfax Spartans 5-0 Vereinigung Erzgebirge *II RWB Adria W-L Fort Wayne SC *II Madison 56ers 1-0 St...
. He then signed with the Penn-Jersey Spirit
Penn-Jersey Spirit
Penn-Jersey Spirit played in the American Professional Soccer League in 1990 and 1991. The team's home stadium was Lions Stadium in Ewing, New Jersey, on the campus of Trenton State College...
of the American Professional Soccer League
American Professional Soccer League
The American Professional Soccer League is a former professional men's soccer league which featured teams from both the United States and Canada. It was the first outdoor soccer league to feature teams from throughout the United States since the demise of the original North American Soccer League...
. He played one game with the team on August 24, 1991.
Inneh then pursued a successful career in Greece playing with Greek first division club Korinthos F.C.
Korinthos F.C.
Korinthos F.C. or Korinthos P.A.S. is a Greek professional football club based in Corinth, currently participating in Gamma Ethniki.-History:...
, where he famously scored against Olympiakos CFP. Korinthos were relegated following the 1992–93 season, and Inneh played for the club in the Greek second division
Beta Ethniki
Football League, former Beta Ethniki, is the second highest professional football league in Greece.-History:In its first years, the system of conduct was very intriguing. It began in 1954 as regional championship, separated in two groups, North and South. Then, the participating teams were the...
. Poised for a move to one of the big three in Greece, Inneh injured his knee and required surgery. He returned to play in the Greek third division
Gamma Ethniki
Football League 2, formerly known as Gamma Ethniki, is the third highest professional football league in Greece.-History:It began in 1965 as an amateur championship, while in 1983 it was changed to professional...
with Agios Nikolaos F.C. during the 1994–95 season. He joined Greek second division club Panelefsiniakos F.C.
Panelefsiniakos F.C.
Panelefsiniakos F.C. , the Panelefsiniakos Athletic Club, is a football club based in the city of Eleusina, Greece.-History:Panelefsiniakos was formed in 1928. The club has played in the top level of Greek football, the Alpha Ethniki, three times , but was relegated after each season...
in 1996.
Inneh then returned to continue his career in the United States. In 1997, he signed with the Long Island Rough Riders
Long Island Rough Riders
Long Island Rough Riders is an American soccer team based in South Huntington, New York, United States. Founded in 1994, the team plays in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the Mid Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference.The team plays its...
of the USISL half way through the season, scoring nine goals in eleven games. On February 1, 1998, the Dallas Burn selected Inneh in the second round (twenty-second overall) of the 1998 MLS Supplemental Draft
1998 MLS Supplemental Draft
The three-round 1998 Major League Soccer Supplemental Draft was held on February 1, 1998 at the Airport Hilton in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.-Format:Major League Soccer held a professional player combine in Fort Lauderdale the last week of January 1998. On Saturday, January 31, 1998, the league held...
. The Burn did not sign Inneh and he returned to the Rough Riders, but was unable to replicate his scoring feats through thirteen games. On August 14, 1998, Long Island traded Inneh to the Staten Island Vipers
Staten Island Vipers
The Staten Island Vipers were a soccer club that competed in the USL A-League in 1998 and 1999. The club was based on Staten Island, New York City. The team played its games at Tottenville High School and Wagner College...
in exchange for Roberto Deluca. He remained with the Vipers in 1999, earning A-League First XI honors after scoring eighteen goals in twenty-four games. In February 2000, the Tampa Bay Mutiny
Tampa Bay Mutiny
The Tampa Bay Mutiny was a charter franchise of Major League Soccer active from 1996 - 2001. They initially played in Tampa Stadium and were immediately successful, winning the first MLS Supporters' Shield behind MLS MVP Carlos Valderrama and high-scoring forward Roy Lassiter, whose 27 goals in...
selected Inneh in the sixth round of the 2000 MLS SuperDraft. The Mutiny waived him on April 20, 2000. He then signed with the Westchester Flames
Westchester Flames
Westchester Flames is an American soccer team based in New Rochelle, New York, United States. Founded in 1999, the team plays in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the Mid Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference.The team plays its home games...
in the Premier Development League. At the end of the season, he went on loan with the Rochester Rhinos as they entered the playoffs. The Rhinos won the USL A-League championship. In 2001, he was back with Westchester, playing with the team through the 2004 season.