King Faisal Babes Football Club have been a powerhouse in the Ghana football fraternity though they have not won the Ghana Premier League in their history.
However, the club has had its glory days by being one of the fanciful football clubs in the nation and have represented Ghana in Africa inter-club competitions.
The “Insha Allah Boys” have been Ghana’s representative in three CAF Confederation Cup competitions. In the maiden edition of the CAF Confederations Cup in 2004, they reached the second round. They improved the following year by reaching the group stage of the competition after they defeated ASEC Ndiambour (4-1), Bendel Insurance (1-0), Red Arrows (4-3) in the first round, second round and the playoffs respectively.
They eventually qualified to the group stages where they finished second with four points behind FAR Rabat who were the eventual winners. In that competition, King Faisal’s talisman, Eric Gawu was the joint top scorer in the tournament together with Morocco’s Khalid El Hirech and Nigeria’s Kelechi Osunwa with all players scoring 7 goals each. They returned to the same competition the following year but got eliminated in the first round.
King Faisal has also churned out top players in Ghana who have flourished in their respective football careers. Notable among them are former Bayern Munich defender, Samuel Osei Kuffour, Black Stars Assistant Manager, Maxwell Konadu, Yusif Chibsah, Frank Acheampong, Skelley Adu Tutu, Shilla Illiasu, Godwin Ablordey, Kwadwo Poku, Eric Gawu, Nana Frimpong, Ben Wilson, Abubakar Yahuza among others.
In the Ghana Premier League, the Kumasi-based club have been a force to reckon with until when they were relegated at the end of the 2010–11 Glo Premier League season and played in the Poly Tank Division One League in the 2011–12 season.
They were re-promoted to the 2012–13 Glo Premier League season but unfortunately relegated the next season. The cycle of promotion and relegation continued until last season. The club have been relegated twice in the last 15 years (2010/11 and 2013/14 seasons). Bank roller for the club, Alhaji Abdul Karim Grunsah speaking to an Accra-based radio station in February this year said he is ready to sell the club. “I am ready for anyone that is ready to buy the club. If somebody can offer not less than $2million, I’ll sell.” he said.
Last season, King Faisal were winless in their first 10 games of the season; winning their first game against Berekum Chelsea 4-3 in week 11. Their season was a turbulent one but they narrowly escaped relegation after their 1-1 draw with Liberty Professionals in their last game of the season. Four different coaches were at the helm of affairs of the team last season. Anthony Commey, Slavisa Brozicic, Andy Sinason were in the dugout for the “Nokia Boys” at a point in the season until when Nurudeen Amadou took charge with just seven games to end the season. Amadou did a yeoman’s job by winning three games, drawing three and losing one to Berekum Chelsea.
For the first time since March 2013, King Faisal have won their first three games in the Ghana Premier League. A situation no one expected considering their bad form last season. In the transfer window, they sold their most important player last season and the second top scorer in the league, Kwame Peprah to Orlando Pirates in South Africa. They also sold important players like Eric Donkor, Paul Aidoo and Frimpong Boateng.
Ibrahim Osman (from Kotoko), Emmanuel Sarkodie(From Kotoko), Evans Sarfo (from Karela United) and goalkeeper, Frank Boateng (from Medeama) joined the team in the transfer window.
With just three games played in the season, King Faisal has taken every tom, dick and harry by surprise by winning all games against West Africa Football Academy (1-0), Aduana Stars (1-3) and Ashantigold (2-0).
Nurudeen Amadou after taking charge of King Faisal has played 10 games, won six, drew 3 and have lost just a game. They are currently second on the league log with nine points behind league leaders Asante Kotoko who also have nine points.
Is Nurudeen Amadou the “Moses” to lead King Faisal to the Promise Land? Is this season, the season for King Faisal? Only time will tell.
Source: Ghana/Starrfm.com.gh/103.5FM/ James Ohenba Mckeon
