Nzema Kotoko Football Club is a Ghanaian professional football club based in Ampain, Ellembelle, Nzema in the Western Region of Ghana.
The club recognises its foundation as 2012 aligned with that of its antecedent, Osagyefo FC and was established as Nzema Kotoko Football Club on Saturday,1st June 2013, exactly 10 years today.
EARLY YEARS
The foundation of the club laid by seven (7) strong men led by Mr. Kwabena Abekah a former mining driver who had ideals and intention to form a football club that can transform and represent Nzema culture in the soccer fraternity.
It was on faithful Sunday morning, where these men normally gather to engage themselves in a football exercise “Popularly known as “Sunday’s Special” and after that faithful day of Sunday 10th February 2013 , they came with the ideal to form a football club to nurture talents and give young ones the chance to maximize their potentials through football.
They originally proposed “Osagyefo FC ” in honor of Ghana’s First ever President Dr. Kwame Nkrumah who was a native of Nkroful-Ellembelle.
The seven (7) notable founding members were Kwabena Abekah , Eugene, Sir Tijani Mumuni(TJ), Sir Musah Fuseini, Uncle Ebo, Clifford and Nanabeyin Kofi Enzemorbah.
Their first meeting was held in Nkroful at the old BNQ site before their second meeting at Esiama( Rose Line spot) and later decided to present the team to the Paramount Chief of Eastern Nzema Traditional Council, Awulae Amihere Kpanyinli III through some top leaders of Adamus Resources Limited led by Mr. Francis Kojo Baah.
Awulae Amihere Kpanyinli III, together with some top Adamus officers agreed to run the club since it will promote, rewrite and represent nzema heritage on sporting map.
Awulae Amihere Kpanyinli in a various meeting with these men finally agreed to adopt ” Atwe Nzema Kotoko” the traditional symbol of Nzema people”.
Some top members later joined the club with their experiences: Nana Kaku Bulu ( Jamkay), Lord Kiki Zani Sowah, Joseph Annan ( Nani), Late Mr. Apprey and few others.
So on Saturday June 1, 2013 Nzema Kotoko Football Club was born in a colourful Launching ceremony held at the Esiama Secondary Technical School Assembly Hall.
The first official game was played on Saturday 1st June 2013 against Medeama SC in a 1-1 draw at the Asanda Roman School Park.
They Competed in the 2013 Ellembelle Zone of the Western Regional Football Association Division II.They qualified to the sub-middle league and super middle zone where they eventually lost in the final against Samartex in September 2013.
The club won its first major trophy on Sunday 23rd September 2015 against Medeama SC, a 1-0 win in the maiden edition of Kwame Nkrumah’s Cup in Nkroful-Ellembelle.
The Red Magicians made massive recruitments and hired former Great Olympics gaffer Stephen Botchway (Ochester) in January 2014.
The team topped their group in zonal stage and set up a crucial decider with Prestea Mine Stars in the Western Regional Football Association Division II grand finale played at the Sekondi Sports Stadium.
Nzema Kotoko beat Prestea Mine Stars 2-0 to book their ticket in the 2015/16 National Division One League Competition .They made that history on Sunday 18th October 2015.
PRESENT DAY
The club is currently the second team with the most followers in Nzemaland after Karela United.
Nzema Kotoko finished 6th in thier maiden DOL campaign under the tutulege of Coach Mallam Yahaya.
They recently lost to Ashantigold in the finals of the 2019 Normalization Committee Special Cup Competition Tier-II in Cape-Coast.
FACTS YOU SHOULD KNOW.
- The 7 founding members of the Atwe Nzema Kotoko team( Abakah, TJ, Fuseini, Eugene, Clifford, Uncle Ebo) are not a native citizens of the coconut rich tribe.
•Nzema Kotoko first ever goal was scored by Lawrence Akatiah against Medeama.
•Coach Stephen Botchway guided Nzema Kotoko to their first ever DOL competition.
•Most Capped player at Nzema Kotoko is Tachie Amoah ( 325 games from 2013-2020)
•Agyenim Boateng is the player with more goals ( 76 )
•26 players qualified Nzema Kotoko to DOL in 2015 , Abdul Rashid Salam was the last surviving member of the team, he left the team after the 2021/22 Season.
•Patrick Akesse Akesse is the player to score most goals in a single match (6) against Star Madrid.
LIFE PATRON- AWULAE AMIHERE KPANYINLI III
He is the bankroller of the Ampain-based club and also the President of Eastern-Nzema Traditional Council in Ellembelle District of the Western Region.
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