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Hafiz Konkoni

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Hafiz Wontah Konkoni
Personal information
Full name Hafiz Wontah Konkoni
Date of birth (1999-12-27) 27 December 1999 (age 24)
Place of birth Wa,Upper West Region,Ghana
Height 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Position(s) Forward
Team information
Current team
 Young Africans
Number 28
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2016–2017 Bolga All Stars 8 (2)
2017–2018 Bechem United 22 (9)
2018–2019 Alsancak Yeşilova 5 (1)
2018 → Baf Ülkü Yurdu (loan)
2019–2023 Bechem United 85 (26)
2023– Young Africans 2 (1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Hafiz Wontah Konkoni (born 27 December 1999) is a Ghanaian professional footballer who plays as forward for Tanzanian Premier League side Young Africans.[1][2] He previously had spells in Northern Cyprus playing for Alsancak Yeşilova and Baf Ülkü Yurdu.[3]

Early life

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Konkoni is a native of Wa in the Upper West Region of Ghana. He moved to the Northern Region and attended secondary school education in Bole, before later returning to his home region to enroll at Tumu College of Education, previously Tumu Teacher Training College. He is a trained teacher by profession.[4]

Career

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Bolga Stars

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Konkoni started his senior career with lower-tier side Amajande FC in Bole.[4] He served as the captain of the side and helped the club to earn a promotion into the Ghana Division One league during his playing time with the club. His performances attracted deals from clubs with the Division one and Premier League. He eventually joined newly premier league promoted side Bolga Stars in 2017, whilst training as a teacher in Tumu.[4]

Konkoni joined Bolga Stars after they had earned a promotion into the Ghana Premier League for the 2017 season.[4] He played alongside Ibrahim Imoro within that period. He made his debut on 4 March 2017, playing the full 90 minutes in a 2–0 loss to Tema Youth.[5] On 18 March 2023, he scored his first Ghana Premier league goal ever against his future club, Bechem United in the 78th minute at Aliu Mahama Sports Stadium helping Bolga All Stars to a 2–0 victory, the club's first ever Ghana Premier League victory.[6]

Due to combining studies and football and travelling between two Upper West and Upper East regions, he made 8 league appearances and scored 2 goals before joining Bechem United in the May transfer period.[1]

Bechem United

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In May 2017, Konkoni joined Ghana Premier League side Bechem United ahead of the second half of the 2017 Ghana Premier League season. In April 2018, Konkoni scored his first and second goals of the season by scoring a brace against Dreams. He scored another brace against Wa All Stars in a 2–1 victory. At the end of April, he had scored five goals in six matches and was nominated for the Player of the Month.[7]

On 2 May, Konkoni scored a late brace in the 86th and 89th minute to complete a comeback to secure a 3–3 draw against Elmina Sharks after Benjamin Tweneboah had also scored a brace for Sharks.[8] In his second season with the club, he scored 8 goals in 12 league ending as the top scorer before the league cancelled due to the dissolution of the Ghana Football Association in June 2018, as a result of the Anas Number 12 Expose.[9]

Alsancak Yesilova

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In October 2018, Konkoni signed a two-year deal with Northern Cypriot side Merit Alsancak Yeşilova. During his first campaign with the club, he made five appearances scoring one and with four assists as his season was interrupted due to a series of injuries. He was later loaned out to Baf Ülkü Yurdu.[10]

Return to Bechem United

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Ahead of the 2019–20 season, Konkoni returned to his former club and featured in 14 league matches, scored 2 goals and made 1 assists before the league was truncated due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[1] In 2020–21 season, he become the main attacker for Bechem United. He started the season on a good note, scoring his first goal of the season, in a 1–0 home victory over West African Football Academy during the second match of the season.[11][12] He went on to score a late winner against Inter Allies in a 2–1 away victory in December 2020. His form took nose dive after not scoring six consecutive match days until he scored in a 3–1 victory over Techiman Eleven Wonders. After ending that goal drought, he went on to score five goals in ten league matches between January and May 2021.[1] Two of those goals was scored in a 4–0 victory against their fierce rivals Aduana Stars.[13] On 12 May 2021, Konkoni suffered a left arm injury while playing in the Ghana Premier League match against Hearts of Oak, after colliding with Hearts' goalkeeper Richard Attah. The following day, it was confirmed that he fractured left arm and would miss the remainder of the season.[14][15][16] Prior to sustaining the injury he had scored 8 goals in 23 league matches.[1]

Konkoni made his return from injury in the 2021–22 season and played his first match after seven months, coming on in the 63rd minute in a 1–0 victory over King Faisal.[17] On 18 May 2022, he scored his first goal since returning from injury, an 89th-minute late equaliser after coming off the bench in Bechem's match against Real Tamale United.[18][19] He struggled to find form after returning from injury, scoring only one goal in 22 league appearances at the end of the 2021–22 season.[1]

Konkoni scored his first goal in the 2022–23 season on 2 January 2023, in a 2–1 victory over Hearts of Oak.[20] On the following match day, he equalised in the 93rd minute to secure a 1–1 draw against King Faisal.[21][22] On 1 February, he scored a hat-trick as Bechem United defeated Real Tamale United by 6–2, his first career hat-trick.[23] On 19 February, match-day 10, he was involved in all three goals, scoring two and assisting one in a 3–0 win over Accra Great Olympics.[24] In April, Konkoni scored four goals in five matches including a brace against Tamale City. His performance earned him the Ghana Premier League Player of the Month for April 2023.[25]

He ended the season as the second top goalscorer of the season with 15 goals in 26 matches, 3 goals behind eventual winner Abednego Tetteh.

Over four seasons in two spells, he made 107 league appearances and scored 35 goals.[1]

Young Africans

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On 29 July 2023, Konkoni signed a two-year contract with Young Africans which will keep him in Tanzania until 2025, with an option for another year.[26] He was signed by the club for $100,000 with a 25% sell-on clause of any future transfer fee for Bechem United.[27] Konkoni made his debut at National Stadium on 23 August as a second half substitute, scored the third goal of a 5–0 win over Kinondoni and also provided the assist for Mudathir Yahya to score the fourth goal.[28]

Three days later, he scored his CAF Champions League debut goal against Djibouti Telecom in the second leg of the 2023–24 CAF Champions League first round qualifier which ended in a 5–1 victory after making his debut in the first leg on 20 August.[29]

International career

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Based on his 2022–23 league form Konkoni earned his maiden call-up from Chris Hughton to the Ghana national team ahead of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Madagascar in June 2023.[30][31] Hughton praised him for his performances in the Ghana Premier League, saying he had enjoyed watching him play.[32]

Personal life

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Konkoni married his long-time girlfriend in June 2019 at Suuriyiri mosque in the Northern Region. He is a devout Muslim.[33]

Honours

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Individual

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g "Hafiz Wontah Konkoni - Soccer player profile & career statistics". Global Sports Archive.
  2. ^ "We are poised for Asante Kotoko today - Hafiz Konkoni". Kick Ghana. Retrieved 4 June 2021.
  3. ^ "GPL: Hafiz Konkoni wants clubs to keep experienced players". Footy-GHANA.com. 24 August 2020. Retrieved 4 June 2021.
  4. ^ a b c d Lucio, Kanyiri Suburu (19 September 2019). "Talent Spot; Meet Hafiz Wontah Konkoni a star in the making from the Upper West Region of Ghana". Ghana Football News. Retrieved 4 June 2021.
  5. ^ "Match Report of Tema Youth FC vs Bolga All Stars FC - 2017-03-04 - Ghana Premier League - Global Sports Archive". Global Sports Archive. Retrieved 3 June 2021.
  6. ^ Ayeh, Offei-Akoto (19 March 2023). "GPL Wrap: Bolga All Stars snatch first win of the season, Hearts silence loud Kotoko". A1 Radio Bolgatanga. Retrieved 6 September 2023.
  7. ^ Quao, Nathan (8 May 2018). "GHPL: PLB Reveals Nasco Coach, Player Of The Month Nominees For April". Ghana Football Association. Retrieved 6 September 2023.
  8. ^ Ansah, Kwame Owusu (4 May 2018). "The Blind Pass: A matchday feature on Ghana Premier League - A midweek goal feast as quartet hit double". Ghanasoccernet. Retrieved 6 September 2023.
  9. ^ Bushran, Mohammed (11 October 2020). "Exclusive: The Effects of Anass exposé and Covid-19 on the progress of Hafiz wontah konkoni". Ghana Football News. Retrieved 4 June 2021.
  10. ^ Gyimah, Edmund Okai (26 July 2019). "Fmr Bechem striker Konkoni returns to Merit Alsancak". Daily Mail GH. Retrieved 4 June 2021.
  11. ^ "20/21 Ghana Premier League: Hafiz Konkoni scores to power Bechem Utd to beat WAFA". Football Ghana. 21 November 2020. Retrieved 13 June 2023.
  12. ^ "Hafiz Konkoni takes WAFA to the sword as Bechem United triumph". The Ghana Guardian News. 21 November 2020. Retrieved 13 June 2023.
  13. ^ "2020/21 Ghana Premier League: Week 20 Match Report- Bechem United 4-0 Aduana Stars". GhanaSoccernet. 18 April 2021. Retrieved 13 June 2023.
  14. ^ Amoako, Yaw Opoku (14 May 2021). "Bechem United's Hafiz Wutah Konkoni maybe out for the season with fractured arm injury". The Ghana Guardian News. Retrieved 13 June 2023.
  15. ^ "Hafiz Konkoni vows to bounce back stronger after a horrific arm injury". Kick Ghana. 14 May 2021. Retrieved 13 June 2023.
  16. ^ Lucio, Kanyiri Suburu (12 May 2021). "Bechem United FC Set To Without Talisman Hafiz Wontah Konkoni After Injury Against Hearts Of Oak". Ghana Football News. Retrieved 13 June 2023.
  17. ^ Lucio, Kanyiri Suburu (26 December 2021). "Hafiz Wontah Marks Injury Return For Bechem United FC Against King Faisal Babies FC". Ghana Football News. Retrieved 13 June 2023.
  18. ^ "2021/22 Ghana Premier League: Week 29 Match Report - Real Tamale United 2-2 Bechem United". GhanaSoccernet. 18 May 2022. Retrieved 13 June 2023.
  19. ^ "2021/22 Ghana Premier League Week 29: Match Report – Hafiz Konkoni's late strike earns Bechem United a point against RTU". Football Ghana. 18 May 2022. Retrieved 13 June 2023.
  20. ^ "Watch highlights of Hearts of Oak's 2-1 loss to Bechem United". GhanaWeb. 2 January 2023. Retrieved 6 September 2023.
  21. ^ "Match Report of Bechem United FC vs King Faisal Babies FC - 2023-01-08 - betPawa Premier League". Global Sports Archive. Retrieved 6 September 2023.
  22. ^ "2022/23 Ghana Premier League: Week 11 Match Report – Bechem United 1-1 King Faisal". Ghanasoccernet. 8 January 2023. Retrieved 6 September 2023.
  23. ^ "betPawa Premier League: Leaders Aduana FC back to winning ways, Bechem United trounce RTU". Ghana Football Association. 1 February 2023. Retrieved 27 June 2023.
  24. ^ "2022/23 Ghana Premier League: Week 18 Match Report - Bechem United 3-0 Great Olympics". Ghanasoccernet. 19 February 2023. Retrieved 6 September 2023.
  25. ^ a b "Hafiz Konkoni named NASCO Player of the Month for April". Ghana FA. Ghana Football Association. 17 May 2023. Retrieved 13 June 2023.
  26. ^ Mensah, Rita (31 July 2023). "#Donkomi: Bechem United's Hafiz Konkoni joins Tanzanian giants Yanga". Citi Sports Online. Retrieved 5 September 2023.
  27. ^ "Young Africans paid $100,000 to sign Hafiz Konkoni – Bechem United confirms". GhanaWeb. 30 July 2023. Retrieved 5 September 2023.
  28. ^ "Former Bechem United forward Hafiz Wontah Konkoni scores on Young African debut". Ghanasoccernet. 24 August 2023. Retrieved 6 September 2023.
  29. ^ "Striker Hafiz Wontah Konkoni scores in second consecutive game for Young Africans". Ghanasoccernet. 27 August 2023. Retrieved 6 September 2023.
  30. ^ "Hafiz Konkoni joins Ghana squad for Madagascar clash". Ghana Football Association. 12 June 2023. Retrieved 6 September 2023.
  31. ^ Sarbah, Peter (12 June 2023). "Konkoni gets Black Stars call up". Graphic Online. Retrieved 6 September 2023.
  32. ^ "I have enjoyed watching Konkoni - Chris Hughton". Ghana Football Association. 13 June 2023. Retrieved 6 September 2023.
  33. ^ Kapoor Jr, Daraja (28 June 2019). "Former Bechem United striker Hafiz Konkoni marries longtime girlfriend". Football Made In Ghana. Retrieved 4 June 2021.
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