Young Apostles FC captain Ramzy Abubakar says the club’s 1-0 victory over Basake Holy Stars is an early sign of their determination to leave last season’s struggles behind and build a stronger 2026/27 Ghana Premier League campaign.
Young Apostles endured a difficult battle for survival last season, with the players forced to fight until the final day to preserve their Premier League status.
Speaking to the Vault News, Abubakar said that experience has strengthened their resolve to approach the new campaign differently.
The Wenchi-based side opened the new season with a 3-0 defeat to Vision FC, but responded with a home a narrow 1-0 victory over Basake Holy Stars to register their first three points of the campaign.
For the captain, the result was particularly satisfying because of the work the team put in to address the shortcomings from their opening match.
“The feeling was great. On our first game of the season, we went to Vision and we lost by three goals. So, playing at home, we trained very hard and we corrected our mistakes and God being so good, we were able to win. So, it was great.”
Ramzy Abubakar, Young Apostles FC captain
The victory was also Young Apostles’ first league game at their home ground this season after the venue was initially not approved for use.
Abubakar believes playing in Wenchi can become an important advantage for the team, pointing to the difficulty opponents have traditionally faced when visiting the club. “If you’ve been following Young Apostles, you know that coming to Wenchi, it’s either you come and play a draw but you can’t come and take three points,” he said.
Players Set Their Own Targets
The captain revealed that the players have established their own targets for the campaign, with the experience of last season serving as a major motivation.
Rather than leaving themselves vulnerable to another late-season survival battle, Abubakar says the squad wants to collect as many points as possible during the first half of the campaign though he acknowledged that you may not always get what you seek. “We set some targets for ourselves. So, we really wanted to start the season with win, win, win, win,” he explained. “But in football, you don’t get what you always want.”
The defeat made the response against Basake Holy Stars even more important for the players.
“We coming back home to drop a point or lose against Basake, we wouldn’t be happy with that. So, we were motivated by our own goals and targets we set for ourselves.”
Ramzy Abubakar, YAFC captain
Abubakar says the players want to make a strong start so that they are not placed under the same pressure they experienced last season.
“We need to start it with power. So, we can accumulate the maximum points within this first round. So, that in the second round, it will be less work, we’ll work just small so that we will not suffer like what we went through last season.”
Ramzy Abubakar
Young Apostles are also setting targets beyond simply avoiding relegation. Abubakar says the squad wants to finish in the top seven of the Premier League and reach the FA Cup semi-finals.
Continental Football Is Also An Ambition
The captain believes the club’s ambitions can extend beyond domestic competition, with continental football already part of the players’ conversations.
Asked whether Young Apostles would be ready to compete in Africa if they qualify, Abubakar said the squad would embrace the opportunity. “As players, we are always ready. So, yeah, we will be able to compete,” he said.
He also believes continental football could provide significant value to the players and their careers. “Because as a player, playing in Africa, if we are able to work at it, it will bring a lot of value to the players.”
For Abubakar, the responsibility of driving this change also starts with the players themselves. As captain, he says he tries to lead through his actions while maintaining a positive relationship with his teammates and coaches. “As a captain, I always put the team first because I lead by example and I inspire those around and positive relationship with the coaches and my team,” the captain told the Vault News.
The victory over Basake Holy Stars has therefore given Young Apostles an early opportunity to put their new approach into practice.
After the difficulties of last season and the setback on the opening weekend, the club now has its first three points and a clear set of targets for the campaign.
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