Berekum Arsenal was founded in 1995 under the name Mangozy Club, which is the name of the village of the club's founder at the time. But how did the club name change to Berekum Arsenal after the English club Arsenal?
General secretary of Berekum Arsenal club, Damuah Ansah tells the story of the club's establishment:
"The club was founded in 1995 under the name of Mango Club and it continued with this name for only five months.
"We were playing games against amateur teams and he was attending those matches a British tourist and admired the way the team played.
"When he left the country he surprised us by sending us Arsenal jerseys and he was encouraging us.
"He also sent us a lot of money and wrote the club a statement: "You play football the same way Arsenal plays ."
He continued, "For this reason, the club administration decided to change the club's name to Arsenal, and the name Berekum was added before it, according to the city to which we are affiliated. We later sent an invitation to the tourist when we decided to change the name of the team".
Berekum Arsenal wears the same shirts that Arsenal wears, and the club is changing its outfit in line with Arsenal, where Anso Damuh explained that:
"Since 1995, we maintain this tradition every year when Arsenal issues its new shirts, which we buy for players in addition to training teams and the technical staff. We follow all traditions at Arsenal. The only thing we missed here is that another version of Arsene Wenger is available."
Berekum Arsenal quickly made its first appearance in the Ghana League just 4 years after the club's creation in the 1999-2000 season.
Arsenal's policy for many years is to attract and develop young players besides providing fun football for the fans. Is there a similarity between the goals of Berekum Arsenal with the goals of Arsenal?
Anso Damoua answers: "Yes, we study everything at Arsenal Club and we apply it here. We always contract with coaches who rely on offensive play. What we are famous in Ghana is that we offer fun football. We have distinguished youth academies in developing talent. John Fransham, former England player Fulham, and Emmanuelle Baddou, the Italian forward Hellas Verona, represented Ghana, as did striker Nana BoccBocco who played in Egypt.
Berekum Arsenal is currently playing in the second division in Ghana after relegation from the Premier League in the 2013-2014 season.
The best achievement of the club was to qualify for the second round of the African Confederation Cup in 2006 as well as the club qualified for the semi-finals of the FA Cup last season, which is in the second degree, but lost to Asante Kotoko.
In the city of Berekum there is a derby similar to the London derby between Berekum Chelsea and Berekum Arsenal, a derby that started establishing Berekum Chelsea in 2004 after changing its name .
How is the conflict between the two clubs in the city of Berekum?
Anso Damoua answers: "Chelsea is a big club like us here, we are the oldest and we have the most popularity in the city Although Chelsea previously won the league title, we are superior to Chelsea in direct confrontations historically and the day of confrontations between us is a big day in the city and the fans go to the match court since the beginning of the day The stadium will be full of fans. "
With all this, did Berekum Arsenal try to communicate with Arsenal, so that there is mutual cooperation between the two clubs?
Anso said: "Officials in Arsenal in 2007 when they learned about the story of our club they invited an Arsenal match against Liverpool in the English Premier League and Arsene Wenger was in the early future and gave support to the team through some sportswear and we hope to play against them in a honoring match both here in Ghana Or in England. "
Berekum Arsenal aims to return to the Premier League, where the team was leading the first group in the second division before the sphere of football stopped in Ghana due to the outbreak of Virus Coruna.