| Clubname: | Dawu Youngstars |
| Fullname: | Dawu Youngstars FC |
| Founded: | 1987 |
| Ground: | Dawu Sports Stadium, Dawu |
| Capacity: | 10,000[1] |
| Chairman: | Seth Yeboah |
| Season: | 2002 |
| Position: | 15th |
Dawu Youngstars are a now defunct Ghanaian association football team from Dawu, a small town in the eastern region of Ghana[2] who were founded in 1987.[3] The club last competed in the Ghanaian Premier League in 2002, but financial problems after relegation that season have meant the club has not since returned to Ghana's top flight.
Dawu Youngstars was founded in 1987 by Seth Yeboah, a businessman from Dawu.[4] Yeboah became the club's owner,[5] and later built the team the Dawu Sports Stadium to play in, which has a capacity of 10,000.[6] Dawu quickly rose to prominence in the Ghanaian leagues, reaching the Premier League in the 1990/91 season,[7] just three years into the club's existence. Youngstars' success continued with qualification for the 1992 West African Club Championship, although they were later disqualified from the competition. Dawu stayed in the Ghanaian Premier League until 2002, frequently finishing in the top five of the league. However, the club was relegated in the 2002 season after finishing second-bottom in the league.[8]
This relegation ended a 12-year stay in the top flight, and it looks unlikely that the club will return to the Premier League in the near future due to financial difficulties.
Normally, a club relegated from the Ghanaian Premier League would automatically drop into the First Division, but Dawu's financial plight meant they could not raise sufficient funds to compete in the First Division in 2003 and were replaced by Maamobi Mitdyland, with the Youngstars dropping to the Second Division instead.[9]
Dawu have twice had the league's top scorers, namely Ghanaians Abdul Mumuni in 1991/92 and Laud Oscar in 1993/94. However, these are the club's only honours as they have never won the Ghanaian Premier League[10] or Ghanaian FA Cup.[11]
In October 2010, Youngstars founder Seth Yeboah stated that he wanted to revive the club to provide employment for young people in Dawu.[12]
Dawu qualified for the 1992 West African Club Championship just five years after they had been founded. In the 5th round, Dawu came up against Asemap FC of Benin. A 2–0 win in the first leg and a 2–1 win in the second leg[13] gave the Youngstars an aggregate 4–1 win and they should have progressed to the next round. However, Dawu were then disqualified and their place in the quarter-finals was taken by Asemap FC, who went on to reach the semi-finals, only being eliminated on penalties by Hafia FC of Guinea.
| Position | Club | Points | Games Won | Games Lost | Games Drawn | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Asante Kotoko | 44 | 18 | 4 | 8 | |
| 2 | Hearts of Oak | 37 | 14 | 7 | 9 | |
| 3 | Great Olympics | 35 | 12 | 7 | 11 | |
| 4 | Real Tamale United | 34 | 12 | 8 | 10 | |
| 5 | Dawu Youngstars | 33 | 8 | 5 | 17 | |
| 6 | Okwahu United | 32 | 8 | 6 | 16 | |
| 7 | Goldfields SC | 29 | 8 | 9 | 13 | |
| 8 | Brong Ahafo United | 28 | 10 | 12 | 8 | |
| 9 | Afienya United | 28 | 10 | 12 | 8 | |
| 10 | VORADEP Ho | 28 | 7 | 9 | 14 |
NB: Table only shows 10/16 teams to focus on Dawu Youngstars
Dawu managed to secure an impressive 5th place[14] in the Ghanaian Premier League just three years after their formation. The club only finished four points behind 2nd-placed Accra Hearts of Oak, the biggest club in the country.
| Position | Club | Points | Games Won | Games Lost | Games Drawn | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Asante Kotoko | 40 | 17 | 3 | 6 | |
| 2 | Hearts of Oak | 37 | 16 | 5 | 5 | |
| 3 | Goldfields SC | 33 | 11 | 4 | 11 | |
| 4 | Kumapim Star | 29 | 12 | 9 | 5 | |
| 5 | Dawu Youngstars | 26 | 8 | 8 | 10 | |
| 6 | Neoplan Star | 25 | 8 | 9 | 9 | |
| 7 | Berekum Arsenal United | 24 | 9 | 11 | 6 | |
| 8 | Afienya United | 24 | 6 | 8 | 12 | |
| 9 | Great Olympics | 24 | 8 | 10 | 8 | |
| 10 | Real Tamale United | 23 | 8 | 11 | 7 |
NB: Stats only shown for 10/14 clubs to focus on Dawu Youngstars
Dawu managed to emulate the success of the previous season, again finishing in 5th place.[15] However, if they had won just one game fewer, Dawu would have finished in 10th place, an indication of how close the league was. The club was propelled by the goals of Abdul Mumuni, later to become a Ghanaian international, who was the Ghanaian Premier League's top scorer for the season.
| Position | Club | Points | Games Won | Games Lost | Games Drawn | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Asante Kotoko | 32 | 12 | 2 | 8 | |
| 2 | Goldields SC | 30 | 12 | 4 | 6 | |
| 3 | Dwarfs | 24 | 8 | 6 | 8 | |
| 4 | Real Tamale United | 23 | 8 | 7 | 7 | |
| 5 | Hearts of Oak | 22 | 6 | 6 | 10 | |
| 6 | Dawu Youngstars | 22 | 7 | 8 | 7 | |
| 7 | Neoplan Star | 20 | 6 | 8 | 8 | |
| 8 | Great Olympics | 20 | 8 | 10 | 4 | |
| 9 | Afienya United | 20 | 7 | 9 | 6 | |
| 10 | Ghapoha | 20 | 5 | 7 | 10 |
NB: Only 10/12 teams shown to focus on Dawu Youngstars
Dawu slipped to sixth place in the league but still enjoyed a successful season, including keeping 3 consecutive clean sheets between rounds 2–4. Dawu's striker Felix Aboagye was the league's joint-second top-scorer, with 8 goals.
| Position | Club | Points | Games Won | Games Lost | Games Drawn | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | Dwarfs | 25 | 9 | 6 | 7 | |
| 6 | Okwahu United | 23 | 8 | 7 | 7 | |
| 7 | Ghapoha | 21 | 5 | 6 | 11 | |
| 8 | Dawu Youngstars | 21 | 7 | 8 | 7 | |
| 9 | Real Tamale United | 21 | 7 | 8 | 7 | |
| 10 | Afineya United | 19 | 6 | 9 | 7 | |
| 11 | Neoplan Star | 14 | 6 | 14 | 2 | |
| 12 | Mighty Rules | 7 | 3 | 17 | 3 |
Dawu dropped two places from the previous season but despite their low placing, were only six points away from 2nd placed Asante Kotoko.[16]
| Position | Club | Points | Games Won | Games Lost | Games Drawn | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | Dwarfs | 30 | 7 | 6 | 9 | |
| 6 | Great Olympics | 29 | 8 | 9 | 5 | |
| 7 | Dawu Youngstars | 28 | 7 | 8 | 7 | |
| 8 | Okwahu | 28 | 7 | 8 | 7 | |
| 9 | Afienya | 26 | 7 | 10 | 5 | |
| 10 | Ghapoha | 25 | 4 | 5 | 13 |
With just four games remaining in the league season, Dawu were in an impressive 3rd place,[17] and could still have won the league. However, they took just one point from their last four matches and slumped to a 7th-placed finish. This poor end-of-season form almost dragged Dawu into the relegation zone, as they finished just four points clear of the two relegated teams.
| Position | Team | Points | Games Won | Games Lost | Games Drawn | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | Great Olympics | 41 | 11 | 11 | 8 | |
| 10 | Liberty Professionals | 39 | 12 | 15 | 3 | |
| 11 | Dawu Youngstars | 37 | 9 | 11 | 10 | |
| 12 | Power FC | 36 | 9 | 12 | 9 | |
| 13 | Ghapoha Readers | 36 | 8 | 10 | 12 | |
| 14 | Tano Bafoakwa | 33 | 10 | 17 | 3 | |
| 15 | All Blacks | 32 | 10 | 15 | 5 | |
| 16 | Afienya United | 14 | 2 | 20 | 8 |
Dawu finished just four points above the relegation zone in a disappointing season. In a season of mixed results, including a 5–1 win over Ghapoha and a 5-1 reverse at Hearts of Oak, Youngstars saved themselves from relegation with an improved second half of the season, with two wins and a draw from the club's final three games. In the FA Cup, Dawu were eliminated in the first round after losing 6–5 to Corners of Konongo on penalties.[18]
| Position | Team | Points | Games Won | Games Lost | Games Drawn | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | Kwaebibirem United | 38 | 11 | 14 | 5 | |
| 12 | Great Olympics | 37 | 10 | 10 | 10 | |
| 13 | Dawu Youngstars | 36 | 8 | 11 | 11 | |
| 14 | Power FC | 35 | 8 | 11 | 11 | |
| 15 | Cape Coast Ebusua Dwarfs | 34 | 8 | 12 | 10 | |
| 16 | Brong Ahofu United | 27 | 6 | 15 | 9 |
Dawu very narrowly avoided relegation on the last day of the season. After a poor start to the 2000 campaign, including a 5–0 loss to Asante Kotoko and just one win in their first 11 games,[19] the Youngstars needed a victory over their opponents to ensure survival. However, as if matters were not difficult enough already, Dawu's opponents were none other than league champions Accra Hearts of Oak, the most successful club in Ghana. Incredibly, Hearts failed to show and the three points were awarded to Dawu, the club avoiding a relegation playoff by just one point.
Dawu found success in the 2000 Ghanaian FA Cup, defeating Odupong Heroes, Cape Coast Ebusua Dwarfs and King Faisal before losing in the semi-finals, although the club was perhaps unlucky to be drawn away from home in three of their four matches. Dawu beat Odupong Heroes thanks to a 2nd-minute penalty from Abdulai Tahiru and second half goals from Awudu Adama and Samuel Tona.[20] The table below shows the Youngstars' FA Cup progress.
| Round | Opponent | Result | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4th Round | Odupong Heroes (H) | Won 3–0 | |
| 5th Round | Cape Coast Ebusua Dwarfs (A) | Won 0–2 | |
| Quarter Final | King Faisal (A) | Won 1–2 | |
| Semi Final | Hearts of Oak (A) | Lost 1–0 |
(H) = Home match (A)= Away match
| Position | Team | Points | Games Won | Games Lost | Games Drawn | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hearts of Oak | 64 | 19 | 4 | 7 | |
| 2 | Asante Kotoko | 55 | 18 | 8 | 4 | |
| 3 | Goldfields | 45 | 14 | 13 | 3 | |
| 4 | Dawu Youngstars | 42 | 13 | 14 | 3 | |
| 5 | Tano Bafoakwa | 41 | 11 | 11 | 8 | |
| 6 | Liberty Professionals | 40 | 11 | 12 | 7 | |
| 7 | King Faisal Babes | 40 | 11 | 9 | 10 | |
| 8 | Great Olympics | 39 | 9 | 9 | 12 | |
| 9 | Okwahu United | 39 | 10 | 11 | 9 | |
| 10 | Hasaacas | 39 | 11 | 13 | 6 | |
| 11 | Arsenals | 39 | 11 | 13 | 6 | |
| 12 | Maxbees | 37 | 11 | 15 | 4 | |
| 13 | Real Tamale United | 35 | 13 | 12 | 5 | |
| 14 | Ghapoha Readers | 35 | 9 | 13 | 8 | |
| 15 | Adansiman | 35 | 10 | 15 | 5 | |
| 16 | Kwaebibirem United | 29 | 8 | 17 | 5 |
Dawu Youngstars' Awudu Adama was the league's joint second top-scorer, with 9 goals. Dawu were knocked out in the early stages of the 2001 Ghanaian FA Cup and did not reach the quarter-finals of the competition. Adansiman and Kwaebibirem United were relegated to the Ghanaian First Division. Dawu's results in the league included a 4–1 win over Maxbees and a 1–0 win over domestic giants and 2nd placed Asante Kotoko.[21]
| Position | Team | Points | Games Won | Games Lost | Games Drawn | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hearts of Oak | 78 | 25 | 2 | 3 | |
| 2 | Asante Kotoko | 73 | 23 | 3 | 4 | |
| 3 | Liberty Professionals | 48 | 13 | 8 | 9 | |
| 4 | Great Olympics | 44 | 11 | 8 | 11 | |
| 5 | King Faisal Babes | 40 | 10 | 10 | 10 | |
| 6 | Real Tamale United | 40 | 11 | 12 | 7 | |
| 7 | Goldfields | 38 | 9 | 10 | 11 | |
| 8 | Brong Ahofu United | 38 | 10 | 12 | 8 | |
| 9 | Hasaacas | 37 | 11 | 15 | 4 | |
| 10 | Arsenals | 36 | 10 | 14 | 6 | |
| 11 | Prestea Mines Stars | 35 | 10 | 15 | 5 | |
| 12 | Tano Bafoatwa | 34 | 7 | 10 | 13 | |
| 13 | Okwahu United | 32 | 8 | 14 | 8 | |
| 14 | Power FC | 31 | 7 | 13 | 10 | |
| 15 | Dawu Youngstars | 30 | 7 | 14 | 9 | |
| 16 | Maxbees | 22 | 4 | 16 | 10 |
Dawu and Maxbees were automatically relegated to the Ghana First Division and Power FC joined them after losing the relegation/promotion playoff. The club endured a nightmare start to that season, winning just one of their first 12 games in the 30-round season. Dawu finished just one point away from safety, but still would have had to go through a relegation/promotion play-off if they had finished 14th. The club finished on 30 points, winning 8, drawing 8 and losing 14 games. Dawu Youngstars have not returned to the Ghanaian Premier League since.
In January 2004, Accra Hearts of Oak were made to pay 33 million cedis to Dawu for the transfer of Awudu Adama, which had happened during the 2002 season.[22] Hearts had originally agreed to pay 80 million cedis for Adama but despite reminders from Youngstars had not paid the transfer in full. Dawu's joint top-scorers for the season were Eric Mbroah, Paul Ofori, Issah Ahmed and Mohammed Polo, all with four goals.[23]