Godfred Saka

Godfred Saka
Personal information
Full name Godfred Saka
Date of birth (1988-10-09) 9 October 1988 (age 36)
Place of birth Ghana
Height 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)
Position(s) Right-Back
Youth career
–2009 Right to Dream Academy
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2009–2017 Aduana Stars 100+ (21)
2018 Karela United 3 (0)
2019–2020 Accra Great Olympics 4 (0)
International career
2013–2015 Ghana 8 (0)
Medal record
Football
Representing  Ghana
Winner WAFU Nations Cup 2013
Runner-up African Nations Championship 2014
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Godfred Saka (born October 9, 1988) is a Ghanaian professional footballer who is best known for playing as a right-back for Aduana Stars and the Ghana national football team.[1][2] He went on to play for Karela United and Accra Great Olympics. He served as captain for Aduana Stars and Karela United. Saka played for Aduana Stars for 8 years and was included in the team for the Ghana Premier League that was won in the 2009–10 season and the 2017 season. At the international level, he represented Ghana for four major tournaments, playing and winning the WAFU Nations Cup in 2013, at two African Nations Championship tournament in 2014 and 2016 and the COSAFA Cup in 2015.[3]

Club career

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Early career

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Saka started his youth career for Right to Dream Academy,[4][5][6] he had some training sessions with Everton in England during his formative years as part of the Right to Dream Academy programme.[4]

Aduana Stars

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Saka joined Ghana Premier League club Aduana Stars in July 2009. Saka debuted for Aduana Stars in the 2009–10 Ghanaian Premier League season.[4] He played an instrumental role in helping them win the Ghana Premier League title for the first time in the club's history and setting the record as the first team to win in their debut season.[4] He went on play for the club for 8 years serving as captain in the latter part of his time at the club. As captain, he led them to another Premier League title in the 2017 Ghanaian Premier League season.[4][7][8]

Karela United

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In January 2018, Saka joined newly promoted side Karela United on a one-year deal after exiting Aduana as a free agent.[9][10] Prior to joining Karela United, in December 2017, Saka went on trials at Nigerian club Enyimba and was on the verge of securing a permanent transfer to the club however the deal collapsed.[11] He came out publicly and criticized the club for not being "serious about the deal" after they demanded he stayed at the club for two weeks in order to check his fitness level.[12] Ahead of the season, he was appointed as the captain of the side ahead of their inaugural premier league season.[13][14] He made his debut for Karela 17 March 2018, in a 1–0 loss to Medeama SC.[15] Even though the season was cancelled amid the GFA scandal, he only made 3 league appearances as his season was cut short due to injuries.[16] He later parted ways with the club in January 2019.[16]

Great Olympics

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In November 2019, Saka signed for fellow Ghana Premier League club Accra Great Olympics as a free agent ahead of the 2019–20 season.[8][17] He made his debut during the first match of the season against Ashanti Gold.[18] The match ended in a 3–0 loss to Olympics. He went on and made 4 league appearances before the league was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Ghana. In June 2020, he terminated his contract with club.[8][19]

International career

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In November 2013, coach Maxwell Konadu invited Saka to be included in the Ghana 30-man team for the 2013 WAFU Nations Cup.[20] Saka helped the Ghana national football team to a first-place finish after Ghana beat Senegal, 3–1.[21] Saka was included in the Ghana national football team for the 2014 African Nations Championship that finished runner-up.[22]

Honours

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Aduana Stars

Ghana

Individual

References

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  1. ^ "Ghana Start Camping Today For Wafu Tournament". modernghana.com. Retrieved 10 December 2013.
  2. ^ "Godfred Saka names toughest opponent in Ghana Premier League". GhanaWeb. 10 April 2020. Retrieved 15 July 2021.
  3. ^ Strack-Zimmermann, Benjamin. "Godfred Saka". www.national-football-teams.com. Retrieved 15 July 2021.
  4. ^ a b c d e f "Aduana captain Saka hints at leaving the club | Goal.com". www.goal.com. Retrieved 15 July 2021.
  5. ^ "Right to Dream wrap: Bittersweet moment for Accam, Gyan battle Mensah | Goal.com". www.goal.com. Retrieved 15 July 2021.
  6. ^ "Godfred Saka gets national call-up". GhanaWeb. 13 May 2013. Retrieved 15 July 2021.
  7. ^ "Aduana Stars captain Godfred Saka eyes Ghana Premier League title next season". Modern Ghana. Retrieved 15 July 2021.
  8. ^ a b c "Godfred Saka: I'm available for any club". Graphic Online. Retrieved 15 July 2021.
  9. ^ "OFFICIAL: Right back Godfred Saka Joins Premier League Newly Promoted Side Karela United". Modern Ghana. Retrieved 15 July 2021.
  10. ^ "Karela United complete Godfred Saka capture | Goal.com". www.goal.com. Retrieved 15 July 2021.
  11. ^ Darkwah, Frank (4 December 2017). "Aduana Stars expect long-serving defender Godfred Saka to seal Enyimba deal". Ghana Sports Online. Retrieved 15 July 2021.
  12. ^ Tahiru, Fentuo; Nketsia, Benjamin (8 December 2017). "Enyimba are not serious – Godfred Saka | Citi Sport". Citi FM Online. Citi FM. Retrieved 15 July 2021.
  13. ^ "Godfred Saka: Experienced Defender Installed Karela FC Captain". Modern Ghana. Retrieved 15 July 2021.
  14. ^ "Godfred Saka: Experienced defender installed Karela FC captain". GhanaSoccernet. 25 March 2018. Retrieved 15 July 2021.
  15. ^ "Match Report of Medeama SC vs Karela United FC - 2018-03-17 - Zylofon Cash Premier League - Global Sports Archive". globalsportsarchive.com. Retrieved 15 July 2021.
  16. ^ a b "Experienced Ghana Premier League defender Godfred Saka part ways with Karela United". GhanaSoccernet. 17 January 2019. Retrieved 15 July 2021.
  17. ^ Darkwah, Frank (25 November 2020). "Ex-Aduana Stars defender Godfred Saka joins Great Olympics". Ghana Sports Online. Retrieved 15 July 2021.
  18. ^ "Match Report of Ashanti Gold SC vs Accra Great Olympics FC - 2019-12-29 - Ghana Premier League - Global Sports Archive". globalsportsarchive.com. Retrieved 15 July 2021.
  19. ^ Darkwah, Frank (9 April 2020). "Misfit Godfred Saka nears Great Olympics exit". Ghana Sports Online. Retrieved 15 July 2021.
  20. ^ "Saka, Mohamed & Mpong in 30-man Ghana squad for Wafu Cup". goal.com. Retrieved 10 December 2013.
  21. ^ "Ghana win 2013 Wafu Cup after edging past Senegal 3-1". goal.com. Retrieved 10 December 2013.
  22. ^ a b Allie, Mohammed (1 February 2014). "Libya snatch first African title". BBC Sport. Retrieved 13 July 2021.
  23. ^ "FINISHED: Hearts Of Oak's Mahatma Otoo Wins Ghana League Best Player". Goal.com. 22 May 2010. Retrieved 5 April 2016.
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