Dawu Youngstars F.C.

Dawu Youngstars are a now defunct Ghanaian association football team from Dawu, a small town in the eastern region of Ghana [2] who were founded in 1987.[3] The club last competed in the Ghanaian Premier League in 2002, but financial problems after relegation that season have meant the club has not since returned to Ghana's top flight.

Dawu Youngstars
Full nameDawu Youngstars FC
Founded1987
GroundDawu Sports Stadium, Dawu
Capacity10,000 [1]
ChairmanSeth Yeboah
200215th

History

Dawu Youngstars was founded in 1987 by Seth Yeboah, a businessman from Dawu.[4] Yeboah became the club's owner,[5] and later built the team the Dawu Sports Stadium to play in, which has a capacity of 10,000.[6] Dawu quickly rose to prominence in the Ghanaian leagues, reaching the Premier League in the 1990/91 season,[7] just three years into the club's existence. Youngstars' success continued with qualification for the 1992 West African Club Championship, although they were later disqualified from the competition. Dawu stayed in the Ghanaian Premier League until 2002, frequently finishing in the top five of the league. However, the club was relegated in the 2002 season after finishing second-bottom in the league.[8]

This relegation ended a 12-year stay in the top flight, and it looks unlikely that the club will return to the Premier League in the near future due to financial difficulties.

Normally, a club relegated from the Ghanaian Premier League would automatically drop into the First Division, but Dawu's financial plight meant they could not raise sufficient funds to compete in the First Division in 2003 and were replaced by Maamobi Mitdyland, with the Youngstars dropping to the Second Division instead.[9]

Dawu have twice had the league's top scorers, namely Ghanaians Abdul Mumuni in 1991/92 and Laud Oscar in 1993/94. However, these are the club's only honours as they have never won the Ghanaian Premier League [10] or Ghanaian FA Cup.[11]

In October 2010, Youngstars founder Seth Yeboah stated that he wanted to revive the club to provide employment for young people in Dawu.[12]

Performance in Competitions

UFOA Cup 1992

Dawu qualified for the 1992 West African Club Championship just five years after they had been founded. In the 5th round, Dawu came up against Asemap FC of Benin. A 2-0 win in the first leg and a 2-1 win in the second leg [13] gave the Youngstars an aggregate 4-1 win and they should have progressed to the next round. However, Dawu were then disqualified and their place in the quarter-finals was taken by Asemap FC, who went on to reach the semi-finals, only being eliminated on penalties by Hafia FC of Guinea.

Ghanaian Premier League Record 1990/91
PositionClubPointsGames WonGames LostGames Drawn
1Asante Kotoko441848
2Hearts of Oak371479
3Great Olympics3512711
4Real Tamale United3412810
5Dawu Youngstars338517
6Okwahu United328616
7Goldfields SC298913
8Brong Ahafo United2810128
9Afienya United2810128
10VORADEP Ho287914

NB: Table only shows 10/16 teams to focus on Dawu Youngstars

Dawu managed to secure an impressive 5th place [14] in the Ghanaian Premier League just three years after their formation. The club only finished four points behind 2nd-placed Accra Hearts of Oak, the biggest club in the country.

Ghanaian Premier League Record 1991/92
PositionClubPointsGames WonGames LostGames Drawn
1Asante Kotoko401736
2Hearts of Oak371655
3Goldfields SC3311411
4Kumapim Star291295
5Dawu Youngstars268810
6Neoplan Star25899
7Berekum Arsenal United249116
8Afienya United246812
9Great Olympics248108
10Real Tamale United238117

NB: Stats only shown for 10/14 clubs to focus on Dawu Youngstars

Dawu managed to emulate the success of the previous season, again finishing in 5th place.[15] However, if they had won just one game fewer, Dawu would have finished in 10th place, an indication of how close the league was. The club was propelled by the goals of Abdul Mumuni, later to become a Ghanaian international, who was the Ghanaian Premier League's top scorer for the season.

Ghanaian Premier League Record 1992/93
PositionClubPointsGames WonGames LostGames Drawn
1Asante Kotoko321228
2Goldields SC301246
3Dwarfs24868
4Real Tamale United23877
5Hearts of Oak226610
6Dawu Youngstars22787
7Neoplan Star20688
8Great Olympics208104
9Afienya United20796
10Ghapoha205710

NB: Only 10/12 teams shown to focus on Dawu Youngstars

Dawu slipped to sixth place in the league but still enjoyed a successful season, including keeping 3 consecutive clean sheets between rounds 2-4. Dawu's striker Felix Aboagye was the league's joint-second top-scorer, with 8 goals.

Ghanaian Premier League Record 1993/94
PositionClubPointsGames WonGames LostGames Drawn
5Dwarfs25967
6Okwahu United23877
7Ghapoha215611
8Dawu Youngstars21787
9Real Tamale United21787
10Afineya United19697
11Neoplan Star146142
12Mighty Rules73173

Dawu dropped two places from the previous season but despite their low placing, were only six points away from 2nd placed Asante Kotoko.[16]

Ghanaian Premier League Record 1994/95
PositionClubPointsGames WonGames LostGames Drawn
5Dwarfs30769
6Great Olympics29895
7Dawu Youngstars28787
8Okwahu28787
9Afienya267105
10Ghapoha254513

With just four games remaining in the league season, Dawu were in an impressive 3rd place,[17] and could still have won the league. However, they took just one point from their last four matches and slumped to a 7th-placed finish. This poor end-of-season form almost dragged Dawu into the relegation zone, as they finished just four points clear of the two relegated teams.

Ghanaian Premier League Record 1999
PositionTeamPointsGames WonGames LostGames Drawn
9Great Olympics4111118
10Liberty Professionals3912153
11Dawu Youngstars3791110
12Power FC369129
13Ghapoha Readers3681012
14Tano Bafoakwa3310173
15All Blacks3210155
16Afienya United142208

Dawu finished just four points above the relegation zone in a disappointing season. In a season of mixed results, including a 5-1 win over Ghapoha and a 5-1 reverse at Hearts of Oak, Youngstars saved themselves from relegation with an improved second half of the season, with two wins and a draw from the club's final three games. In the FA Cup, Dawu were eliminated in the first round after losing 6-5 to Corners of Konongo on penalties.[18]

Ghanaian Premier League Record 2000
PositionTeamPointsGames WonGames LostGames Drawn
11Kwaebibirem United3811145
12Great Olympics37101010
13Dawu Youngstars3681111
14Power FC3581111
15Cape Coast Ebusua Dwarfs3481210
16Brong Ahofu United276159

Dawu very narrowly avoided relegation on the last day of the season. After a poor start to the 2000 campaign, including a 5-0 loss to Asante Kotoko and just one win in their first 11 games,[19] the Youngstars needed a victory over their opponents to ensure survival. However, as if matters were not difficult enough already, Dawu's opponents were none other than league champions Accra Hearts of Oak, the most successful club in Ghana. Incredibly, Hearts failed to show and the three points were awarded to Dawu, the club avoiding a relegation playoff by just one point.

Dawu found success in the 2000 Ghanaian FA Cup, defeating Odupong Heroes, Cape Coast Ebusua Dwarfs and King Faisal before losing in the semi-finals, although the club was perhaps unlucky to be drawn away from home in three of their four matches. Dawu beat Odupong Heroes thanks to a 2nd-minute penalty from Abdulai Tahiru and second half goals from Awudu Adama and Samuel Tona.[20] The table below shows the Youngstars' FA Cup progress.

RoundOpponentResult
4th RoundOdupong Heroes (H)Won 3-0
5th RoundCape Coast Ebusua Dwarfs (A)Won 0-2
Quarter FinalKing Faisal (A)Won 1-2
Semi FinalHearts of Oak (A)Lost 1-0

(H) = Home match (A)= Away match

Ghanaian Premier League Record 2001
PositionTeamPointsGames WonGames LostGames Drawn
1Hearts of Oak641947
2Asante Kotoko551884
3Goldfields4514133
4Dawu Youngstars4213143
5Tano Bafoakwa4111118
6Liberty Professionals4011127
7King Faisal Babes4011910
8Great Olympics399912
9Okwahu United3910119
10Hasaacas3911136
11Arsenals3911136
12Maxbees3711154
13Real Tamale United3513125
14Ghapoha Readers359138
15Adansiman3510155
16Kwaebibirem United298175

Dawu Youngstars' Awudu Adama was the league's joint second top-scorer, with 9 goals. Dawu were knocked out in the early stages of the 2001 Ghanaian FA Cup and did not reach the quarter-finals of the competition. Adansiman and Kwaebibirem United were relegated to the Ghanaian First Division. Dawu's results in the league included a 4-1 win over Maxbees and a 1-0 win over domestic giants and 2nd placed Asante Kotoko.[21]

Ghanaian Premier League Record 2002
PositionTeamPointsGames WonGames LostGames Drawn
1Hearts of Oak782523
2Asante Kotoko732334
3Liberty Professionals481389
4Great Olympics4411811
5King Faisal Babes40101010
6Real Tamale United4011127
7Goldfields3891011
8Brong Ahofu United3810128
9Hasaacas3711154
10Arsenals3610146
11Prestea Mines Stars3510155
12Tano Bafoatwa3471013
13Okwahu United328148
14Power FC3171310
15Dawu Youngstars307149
16Maxbees2241610

Dawu and Maxbees were automatically relegated to the Ghana First Division and Power FC joined them after losing the relegation/promotion playoff. The club endured a nightmare start to that season, winning just one of their first 12 games in the 30-round season. Dawu finished just one point away from safety, but still would have had to go through a relegation/promotion play-off if they had finished 14th. The club finished on 30 points, winning 8, drawing 8 and losing 14 games. Dawu Youngstars have not returned to the Ghanaian Premier League since.

In January 2004, Accra Hearts of Oak were made to pay 33 million cedis to Dawu for the transfer of Awudu Adama, which had happened during the 2002 season.[22] Hearts had originally agreed to pay 80 million cedis for Adama but despite reminders from Youngstars had not paid the transfer in full. Dawu's joint top-scorers for the season were Eric Mbroah, Paul Ofori, Issah Ahmed and Mohammed Polo, all with four goals.[23]

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See also

References
  1. World Stadiums - Stadiums in Ghana WorldStadiums.com. Retrieved 10 August 2012.
  2. Modern Ghana - Sports Retrieved 7 August 2011
  3. Okre Akwapim: Dawu Youngsters Retrieved 27 July 2011
  4. Okre Akwapim, Ghana Retrieved 27 July 2011
  5. Modern Ghana: Soccer in the Eastern Region Retrieved 7 August 2011
  6. World Stadiums - Stadiums Ghana Retrieved 8 August 2011
  7. [Modern Ghana Retrieved 7 August 2011
  8. Ghana Web Retrieved 26 July 2011
  9. Modern Ghana - Dawu Youngsters to bounce back soon Retrieved 7 August 2011
  10. Ghana - List of Champions Retrieved 8 August 2011
  11. Ghana - List of Cup Winners Retrieved 8 August 2011
  12. National Commission on Culture Retrieved 8 August 2011
  13. UFOA Cup 1992 Retrieved 7 August 2011
  14. Ghana 1990/91 Retrieved 7 August 2011
  15. Ghana 1991/92 Retrieved 7 August 2011
  16. Ghana 1993/94 Retrieved 8 August 2011
  17. Ghana 1994/95 Retrieved 8 August 2011
  18. Ghana Web Retrieved 26 July 2011
  19. Ghana Soccer League 2000 Retrieved 8 August 2011
  20. Modern Ghana - Soccer: ABC FA CUP RESULTS Retrieved 8 August 2011
  21. Ghana Web - Premier League 2001 Retrieved 26 July 2011
  22. Court Orders Hearts to Pay 33 Million to Dawu Retrieved 7 August 2011
  23. Ghana Web - Leading goal scorers Retrieved 7 August 2011
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