Kwadwo Poku (footballer, born 1985)

Kwadwo Gyamfi-Poku (born 5 May 1985), or simply Kojo Poku, is a Ghanaian former professional footballer who played as a striker.

Not to be confused with Kwadwo Poku (footballer, born 1992).

Kojo Poku
Personal information
Full name Kwadwo Gyamfi-Poku
Date of birth (1985-05-05) 5 May 1985
Place of birth Kumasi, Ghana
Height 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)
Position(s) Striker
Youth career
19??–2000 Asante Kotoko
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2001–2002 Bofoakwa Tano
2003–2004 King Faisal Babes 17 (8)
2004–2006 Midtjylland 27 (3)
2006–2007 Ikast fS 18 (8)
2007–2012 Asante Kotoko
2008 → King Faisal Babes (loan)
2009 → Cornerstones (loan)
2012 Skive 1 (0)
2012 Tjørring
2013 Ringkøbing
2013–2015 Sekondi Hasaacas
National team
2004–2008 Ghana[1] 9 (2)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Career

Poku began his career by Asante Kotoko, the former Ghana Olympic striker came to prominence in 2002 when he was promoted from the junior team of Kotoko and succeeded in making an immediate impact in Kotoko's journey to the finals of the 2002 African Cup Winner Cup, which they eventually lost to Wydad Casablanca of Morocco in the final.

Poku moved to Danish side FC Midtjylland on 15 May 2005,[2] with a huge of potential from local side King Faisal Babes in 2004. In the 2006–07 season he played eighteen games and scores 8 goals for the farmteam Ikast fS. He was released from his Midtjylland contract on 13 April 2007,[3] and signed for Asante Kotoko on 13 August 2007.[4][5] After one year with Kotoko he returned to King Faisal Babes, signing for the Kumasi based club in April 2008.[6] He played half a year for King Faisal Babes before joining city rivals Cornerstones F.C. on loan.[7] In September 2009 Poku returned to Asante Kotoko from his loan.[8]

In February 2012, Poku moved to Danish 1st Division side Skive IK, before signing with Tjørring IF in the August 2012.[9] He would then move to Ringkøbing IF in January 2013.[10]

He returned to Ghana to sign with Sekondi Hasaacas in July 2013.[11] He has since retired.[12]

International career

Poku was part of the Ghanaian 2004 Olympic football team which exited in the first round, having finished in third place in group B. He was member of the Ghana national team and played eight games and scored two goals. He played his first game in 2004 and the last match in 2006, on 27 September 2008 was recalled for the game against Lesotho.[13]

In 2016, Poku made allegations against senior officials of the Ghana national team, claiming that they took bribes from players to be selected for the team.[14]

Honours

(during tenure at Kotoko):

  • Kinapharma (Ghana) Premier League Championship (2003)
  • SWAG Cup (2003)
  • GHALCA/LG Cup (2003)

References
  1. "Poku, Kwadwo". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmerman. Retrieved 6 October 2017.
  2. http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/soccer/player.php?ID=201
  4. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/africa/6552915.stm
  6. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 5 March 2009. Retrieved 27 February 2009.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  7. Nine players ineligible for DOL
  8. Dr. Boateng assures on Oduro & Kwadwo Poku
  9. Damm, Thomas (16 August 2012). "Poku vil tilbage i fokus". www.herningfolkeblad.dk. Herning Folkeblad. Retrieved 29 July 2020.
  10. Thomsen, John (20 January 2013). "Lidt eksotisk da Ringkøbing startede træningen ude". dbrs.dk. Ringkøbing-Skjern Dagbladet. Retrieved 29 July 2020.
  11. Tophic Sienu, Sheikh (31 December 2015). "Hasaacas duo Kojo Poku and Anfo Adjei to leave for trials in Zambia next week". ghanasoccernet.com. Ghana Soccernet. Retrieved 29 July 2020.
  12. Gyamera, Ashes (27 February 2018). "Kojo Poku Mahala accuses Kotoko new coach Fabin of taking bribes during previous era". ashesgyamera.com. Retrieved 29 July 2020.
  14. "Black Stars: Players pay bribes to get into the national team – Kojo Poku Mahala". modernghana.com. Modern Ghana. 30 March 2016. Retrieved 29 July 2020.
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