West African Football Academy

West African Football Academy (WAFA) SC.
Full name West African Football Academy Sporting Club
Founded 1998
Ground WAFA Stadium
South Tongu District, Volta Region, Ghana
Capacity 1,000
Coordinates 6°2′07″N 0°33′02″E / 6.03528°N 0.55056°E / 6.03528; 0.55056Coordinates: 6°2′07″N 0°33′02″E / 6.03528°N 0.55056°E / 6.03528; 0.55056
Chairman Netherlands Karel Brokken
Manager Kamal Aleste
Coach France Patrick Liewig
League Ghana Premier League
2016 -2017 2nd
Website Club website

West African Football Academy (WAFA) SC. is a Ghanaian football club based near Sogakope in the Volta Region that was founded by Feyenoord from Rotterdam. They are competing in the Ghana Premier League. The 2017 season was successful as the side finished second in the Premier League,[1] beating Hearts of Oak 5-0 along the way.[2]

History

Relationship with Feyenoord (Rotterdam)

Feyenoord's chairman Jorien van den Herik was given permission for the opening of Feyenoord's own football academy in the Ghanaian settlement of Gomoa Fetteh, just outside the capital Accra.[3] The go-ahead was given by the Chief of Fetteh in 1998. At the academy, young talented African footballers could work on their football skills. In addition to helping their football potential the students were provided with formal education which was funded by Feyenoord.[3] The idea for Feyenoord’s own football academy was born in Abidjan. Jorien van den Herik was there to sign the then still unknown Bonaventure Kalou and got into contact with the education institute at Kalou’s club.[4] That same year the head of the youth education flew to Africa to take stock in the project and returned with a praising report. In January 1998 the ball got rolling: Feyenoord would start its own Football School in Africa.[4]

Former Feyenoord player Mohammed Abubakari was the first player that graduated from the academy and achieved a professional contract at Feyenoord.[5][6] Before Abubakari's move, Jordan Opoku spent some time at Excelsior and Royal Antwerp FC before returning to Ghana.[7][8] In the buildup to the 2008–09 season, right-back Harrison Afful went on trial with Feyenoord, but was not offered a contract.

In August 2014 Feyenoord was rebranded in West African Football Academy.[9] In the same year, the club took over the old Red Bull Academy near Sogakope and moved from their old location in Gomoa Fetteh to this new location in the Volta Region.[10]

Satellite clubs

The following clubs are affiliated with Feyenoord Gomoa Fetteh:

Squad

As of 1 July 2016.[12]

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

No. Position Player
Ghana GK Theophilus Jackson
Ghana GK Razak Abalora
Ghana DF Kennedy Boateng
Ghana DF Richmond Lamptey
Ghana DF Caleb Amankwah
Ghana DF Mohammed Alhassan (footballer, born 1992)
Ghana DF Emmanuel Boateng (footballer, born 1997)
Ghana DF Gideon Mensah
Ghana DF Ibrahim Abubakar
Ghana DF Umar Sheik Ouedraogou
Ghana DF Abdul Karim Salisu
No. Position Player
Ghana MF Gideon Waja
Ghana MF Baggnan Abdoul Aziz
Ghana MF Prince Obeng Ampem
Ghana MF Langui-Koffi Leenon Becanty
Ghana MF Ibrahim Fofana
Ghana MF Lawrence Ofori
Ghana FW Zakaria Mumuni
Ghana FW Charles Boateng (footballer, born 1997)
Ghana FW Gideon Akunnor
Ghana FW Ossoukou Xavier
Ghana FW Oukpedjo Mouhtari
Head coach
  • Klavs Rasmussen
Technical director

    References

    1. ↑ "Ghana Premier League Standings". FIFA. Retrieved 27 January 2018.
    2. ↑ "WAFA massacre Hearts". Retrieved 27 January 2018.
    3. 1 2 "Feyenoord Worldwide". Feyenoord.com.
    4. 1 2 "Feyenoord Worldwide". Feyenoord.nl. Archived from the original on 2013-01-23.
    5. ↑ "Player Profile Mohammed Abubakari". Ghanaweb.com.
    6. ↑ "Ghanaian midfielder Mohammed Abubakari has joined the Dutch club Feyenoord Rotterdam". BBC Sport. News.bbc.co.uk. 17 February 2006.
    7. ↑ "Jordan Opoku (Excelsior)". Vi.nl.
    8. ↑ "Antwerp FC 04-05". Eufo.de.
    9. ↑ Fetteh Feyenoord Academy changes name to WAFA SC
    10. ↑ "WAFA FC to switch home base to Sogakope for Premier League". Modern Ghana. Retrieved 27 January 2018.
    11. ↑ Stage de préparation au Ghana: Une aventure positive
    12. ↑ "TEAMS - West African Football Academy". West African Football Academy. Retrieved 10 February 2017.


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