Karela United FC

Karela United FC is a Ghanaian professional football club based in Aiyinase, Ellembele District, Western Region. The club competed in the 2019 Ghanaian Normalisation Cup Competition. Karela plays their home matches at the CAM Park.

Karela United FC
Full nameKarela United FC
Founded2013 (2013)
GroundCrosby Awuah Memorial Park (CAM Park)
Aiyinase, Western Region, Ghana
Capacity5,000
ManagerEvans Adotey
LeagueGhana Premier League
2022–23Ghana Premier League, 7th

History

The club was founded on Tuesday October 1, 2013, when the former Metropolitan Sporting Club changed its name to Karela United Football Club. Karela initially competed in the Ghana Division One league, off which they emerged as champions and were subsequently promoted into the Ghana Premier League in the year 2017. The first official match was played on Saturday November 23, 2013 against Proud United in a goalless draw at Kasoa.[1]

2018 – present

After the Ghana Premier League was hit by the Anas Number 12 scandal and the 2018 league season was cancelled along with the dissolution of the Ghana Football Association in June 2018, a Normalisation Competition was organised by the GFA normalisation committee to be played in place of the main league as the restructuring of the GFA was being put in place.[2] Karela placed 2nd in group B to qualify for the next stage, beating Ashanti Gold SC at that stage to qualify to the finals to play against Asante Kotoko.[3] Karela lost the finals in a penalty shootout round after the match ended in a 1–1 draw. They lost the bid to represent Ghana at the 2019–20 CAF Champions League and were declared runner-up in the Tier 1 of the competition.[4]

After several distractions to the Ghana premier league from 2017 due to the dissolution of the GFA in June 2018, the 2018 league season was abandoned and the uprising of the deadly COVID-19 pandemic which also caused the 2019-20 league to be cancelled abruptly, the 2020-2021 season started in November 2020.[5]

Rivalry

Karela being a club based in the Nzema enclave of the Ellembele District located in Western Region of Ghana, they developed a fierce rivalry between them and their fellow Nzema enclave team Medeama SC. The rivalry has developed over the years into the Nzema Derby.[6][7][8] They are also rivals with Nzema Kotoko.[9]

Grounds

The team's home games are played at Crosby Awuah Memorial (CAM) Park.[10][11]

Current squad
As of 26 April, 2023

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
2 DF Ghana GHA Augustine Randolph
3 DF Ghana GHA Emmanuel Anaful
4 DF Ghana GHA Ebenezer Ocran
5 MF Ghana GHA Daniel Paha Kwofie
7 FW Ghana GHA George Amonoo
8 DF Ghana GHA Fatawu Mohammed
9 FW Ghana GHA Richard Berko
10 MF Ghana GHA Brite Andoh
11 FW Ghana GHA Kelvin Andoh
14 MF Ghana GHA Kingsford Frimpong
15 MF Ghana GHA Dafie Humin Mohammed
16 FW Ghana GHA Patrick Mensah
17 FW Ghana GHA Philip Flamini
No. Pos. Nation Player
18 DF Ghana GHA Kwodwo Addae (captain)
19 FW Ghana GHA Evans Adomako
20 MF Ghana GHA Joseph Dinku
21 DF Ghana GHA Abdul-Raman Yaya
27 MF Ghana GHA Isaac Donkor
29 FW Ghana GHA Stephen Akane
30 FW Ghana GHA Samuel Attah Kumi
31 MF Ghana GHA Emmanuel Boakye Owusu
33 FW Ghana GHA Franklin Osei
35 DF Ghana GHA Kweku Osei
36 DF Ghana GHA Mohammed Rashid
42 DF Ghana GHA Solomon Twene
88 GK Ghana GHA Emmanuel Essandoh

[12]

Honours

Domestic

Club captains

Philip Quarshie (2016–2018)[14][15]

Godfred Saka (2018)[16]

Empem Dacosta (2019)[17][18]

Godfred Agyemang Yeboah (2019 – present)[19]

Managers

Ghana Johnson Smith,[20] 2017 – October 2019[21][22]

Ghana Evans Adotey,[23] April 2020 – present

Season

2020–21 Karela United FC season

See also

References
  1. "Brief History". Karela United FC. Retrieved 3 May 2018.
  2. "NC Special Cup: Hearts, Kotoko, Ashgold open with wins; WAFA crush Liberty". Citinewsroom - Comprehensive News in Ghana. 2019-03-31. Retrieved 2021-02-08.
  3. Kapoor, Daraja Jr. (2019-06-22). "NC Special Competition Preview - Asante Kotoko vrs Karela United". Football Made In Ghana. Retrieved 2021-02-08.
  4. "NC Special: Kotoko beat Karela on penalties to win Tier 1 Competition". Citinewsroom - Comprehensive News in Ghana. 2019-06-23. Retrieved 2021-02-08.
  5. "The ultimate 18-team Ghana Premier League season guide 2020/21 - MyJoyOnline.com". www.myjoyonline.com. Retrieved 2021-01-20.
  6. "Diawisie Taylor to miss 'Nzema derby' against Medeama". www.ghanaweb.com. 2021-01-28. Retrieved 2021-02-07.
  7. Association, Ghana Football. "Karela United to square off against Medeama SC in Nzema derby – Preview". www.ghanafa.org. Retrieved 2021-02-07.
  8. Kapoor, Daraja Jr. (2021-01-31). "REPORT: Karela United 2-0 Medeama SC- Karela claim Nzema derby bragging rights". Football Made In Ghana. Retrieved 2021-02-07.
  9. Zurek, Kweku (12 January 2021). "Bad Blood: Karela United turn down Nzema Kotoko request to use stadium". Graphic Online. Retrieved 1 September 2021.
  10. Association, Ghana Football. "Karela United". www.ghanafa.org. Retrieved 2021-02-07.
  11. Okine, Sammy Heywood (2020-05-04). "New CAM Park -Venue For Karela United FC Almost Complete". News Ghana. Retrieved 2021-02-10.
  12. "The ultimate 18-team Ghana Premier League season guide 2020/21 - MyJoyOnline.com". www.myjoyonline.com. Retrieved 2021-02-08.
  13. "HISTORY - Karela United FC". GhanaSoccernet. 2020-11-13. Retrieved 2021-07-01.
  14. "Captain Philip Quarshie Of Karela United Commends Team Mates For Historic Premier League Qualification". Modern Ghana. Retrieved 2021-07-15.
  15. "Any new signing will be embraced by us-Karela skipper Quarshie". Football Made In Ghana. 2017-11-28. Retrieved 2021-07-15.
  16. "Godfred Saka: Experienced defender installed Karela FC captain". GhanaSoccernet. 2018-03-25. Retrieved 2021-07-15.
  17. "REVEALED: Why Empem Dacosta Has Been Thrown Out Of Asante Kotoko". Modern Ghana. Retrieved 2021-03-18.
  18. "OFFICIAL: Ampem Dacosta joins Asante Kotoko - Kickgh.com". www.kickgh.com. Retrieved 2021-03-19.
  19. Osman, Abdul Wadudu (2020-11-18). "Karela United appoint Godfred Yeboah as new captain". Football Made In Ghana. Retrieved 2021-02-07.
  20. "Karela United Coach Johnson Smith Wants Early Start Of Ghana Premier League". Modern Ghana. Retrieved 2021-02-08.
  21. "OFFICIAL: Johnson Smith to assist Zachariassen at Kotoko". Citi Sports Online. 2019-10-12. Retrieved 2021-02-08.
  22. "Kotoko set to appoint Karela United Coach Johnson Smith". Ghana Sports Online. 2019-10-06. Retrieved 2021-02-08.
  23. "Karela United appoint Evans Adotey as new head coach of the club". GhanaSoccernet. 2020-04-14. Retrieved 2021-02-08.
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