View source for Real Republicans F.C. (Ghana)

{{Short description|Football club based in Accra}}
{{For|the Sierra Leone team|Real Republicans F.C. (Sierra Leone)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2014}}
'''Real Republikans''' was a [[Ghanaian]] [[association football]] club based in the capital, [[Accra]], along with [[Accra Hearts of Oak SC|Hearts of Oak]], and was among the most successful Ghanaian clubs in the country’s first decade of independence. It holds Ghana's record for the most consecutive [[Ghana FA Cup|FA Cup]] wins, four. The club formed the core of the national team, the [[Ghana national football team|Black Stars]], in its early years.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=Yenkassa – Let's Speak! » Real Republicans: The True Story Of The Legendary Football Club|url=https://www.yenkassa.com/real-republicans-the-true-story-of-the-legendary-football-club/|access-date=2020-09-01|language=en-US}}</ref>
==History==
[[File:Ghana football team 1960s.jpg|thumb|150px|right|Real Republikans with domestic trophies FA Cup (center) and National League Cup (right) won during the 1962-1963 season]]
[[Kwame Nkrumah]] had an ambition to unite Africa and believed football could be used as a tool. He appointed [[Ohene Djan]] on 1 July 1960 as the Director of Sports. He encouraged Ohene Djan to form the football club which was also known as Osagyefo's Own Club.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web|title=1963 Real Republicans Football Club, also known as...|url=https://ghanalife.tumblr.com/post/152779426749/1963-real-republicans-football-club-also-known-as|access-date=2020-09-01|website=Understanding Ghana}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Issahaku, Ibrahim Mahama and Kotei Dzani - Meet the wealthy owners of Tamale City FC|url=https://www.graphic.com.gh/sports/sports-news/issahaku-ibrahim-mahama-and-kotei-dzani-meet-the-owners-of-tamale-city-fc.html|access-date=2020-09-01|website=Graphic Online|language=en-gb}}</ref> The passion and belief Nkrumah had in football led to the formation of the football club. It was claimed the team was made up of talented local boys who were assembled together.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-05-20|title=Form a team like Nkrumah’s Republicans - Osei Kofi tells govt|url=https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/SportsArchive/Form-a-team-like-Nkrumah-s-Republicans-Osei-Kofi-tells-govt-957580|access-date=2020-09-01|website=www.ghanaweb.com|language=en}}</ref> Notable among them was [[Baba Yara]] and [[Dogo Moro]] from [[Asante Kotoko S.C.|Asante Kotoko]], Addo Odametey and Doddo Ankrah from [[Accra Hearts of Oak S.C.|Hearts of Oak]].<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|date=2020-08-30|title=Today In History: Real Republicans becomes 1st team to win Ghana FA Cup three consecutive times|url=https://www.pulse.com.gh/sports/football/today-in-history-real-republicans-becomes-1st-team-to-win-ghana-fa-cup-three/yq6y87p|access-date=2020-09-01|website=Pulse Gh|language=en-US}}</ref>
The team won its only [[Ghana Premier League]] title in the 1962/63 season. This remains the club's only title to date, as they were dissolved in 1966 <ref>[http://weltfussballarchiv.com/Vereinsprofilnew.php?ID=8470 World Football Archive&nbsp;– Dawu Youngstars] Retrieved 26 July 2011</ref> at the height of their success.
The team were more successful in the [[Ghanaian FA Cup]] than the league, winning four consecutive tournaments in the 1960s, which proved to be a great decade for the club. Republikan's last FA Cup win in 1965 was also their last participation in the tournament, as there was no FA Cup in 1966, the year the club dissolved.
Real Republikans were once seen as a model club for the rest of Ghanaian football <ref>[http://ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/soccer/player.php?ID=299 GhanaWeb&nbsp;– Edward Jonah Aggrey-Fynn] Retrieved 26 July 2011.</ref> as they were established at a time when the first edition of a league system in Ghana resulted in chaos and ended with 6 of the 8 teams in the league boycotting in protest at the federation's leader.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Kwame Nkrumah’s team are going to the World Cup|url=https://africasacountry.com/2013/11/kwame-nkrumahs-team-are-going-to-the-world-cup|access-date=2020-09-01|website=africasacountry.com|language=en-US}}</ref>
Edward Jonah Aggrey-Fynn, who was appointed captain of Real Republikans upon signing for the team in the late 1950s/early 1960s, went on to captain the [[Ghana national football team]] after showing great ability and leadership skills at club level.{{citation needed|date=March 2021}}
The club also found success in the [[CAF Champions League]], reaching the semi-final of the competition in 1964/65. However, they were beaten 2–1 by opponents [[Oryx Douala]] from [[Cameroon]] on 31 January 1965 in front of 50,000 at the [[Accra Stadium]] and therefore did not reach the final.  Oryx Douala went on to win the final against [[Stade Malien]] of [[Mali]]. Republikans had qualified for the tournament by winning their domestic league and then winning the "West Africa B" group consisting of league Champions from other countries.{{citation needed|date=March 2021}}
== Games played ==
Real Republikans played against [[Real Madrid CF|Real Madrid]] after they were invited by Kwame Nkrumah through Ohene Djan in Ghana. The game ended with a 3–3 draw at the [[Accra Sports Stadium]].<ref name=":0" /> The game was played on 19 August.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Black Stars 3-3 Real Madrid: Ghana's 'forgotten' football match {{!}} Goal.com|url=https://www.goal.com/en-gh/news/4389/ghanaian-football/2014/08/19/5044117/black-stars-3-3-real-madrid-ghanas-forgotten-football-match|access-date=2020-09-01|website=www.goal.com}}</ref>
They defeated Great Ashanti by 3 goals to nil in [[Kumasi]] to win the Ghana FA Cup.<ref name=":1" />
== Accident ==
On 4 March 1963, the team had a motor accident which occurred at [[Kpeve]], when they returning to Accra after playing a league match against Volta Heroes at [[Kpando|Kpandu]]. Baba Yara who was claimed to be one of the glamorous footballer of all times in Ghana, got seriously injured which led to his career curtailed in his prime at the age of 26.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Matters Arising Out Of The Asante Kotoko Football Team|url=https://www.modernghana.com/news/788861/matters-arising-out-of-the-asante-kotoko-football.html|access-date=2020-09-01|website=Modern Ghana|language=en}}</ref>
== Disbanded ==
The team was disbanded after President Kwame Nkrumah and his government were overthrown by [[coup d'état]]. The new military regime disbanded Real Republikans and Ghanaian football went into a relative period of decline.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web|date=2014-11-05|title=Kwame Nkrumah, Real Republikans and the quest for African unity|url=https://ghanasoccernet.com/kwame-nkrumah-real-republicans-quest-african-unity|access-date=2020-09-01|website=GhanaSoccernet|language=en}}</ref>
==Ghanaian FA Cup Wins==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!''' Year''' !! '''Opponent'''
|-
| 1961/62 || Hearts of Oak
|-
| 1962/63 || Cornerstones
|-
| 1963/64 || Great Ashantis
|-
| 1965 || Cornerstones
|}
==References==
{{reflist}}
==External links==
* http://ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/soccer
* http://weltfussballarchiv.com/Vereinsprofilnew.php?ID=8470
[[Category:Football clubs in Ghana]]
[[Category:Football clubs in Accra]]
[[Category:1956 establishments in Gold Coast (British colony)]]
[[Category:1966 disestablishments in Ghana]]
[[Category:Association football clubs disestablished in 1966]]