Godfred Karikari (; born 11 March 1985) is a former professional footballer who played as a forward. Born in Ghana, he represented the Hong Kong national football team.
Early life Karikari was born to an affluent family in Ghana. He was a fast runner in his youth and was invited to join the school's track and field team; instead, he chose to play football. He was introduced to Hong Kong football by his manager and has not returned to Ghana since. His family members, whom he visits when he is on holiday, live in the United States and the United Kingdom today.高梵心繫香港 Ta Kung Pao. 李恆基. 28 December 2011.
Club career Early career Karikari arrived in Hong Kong in 2002 and joined Fukien. In 2005, he moved to Rangers (HKG).
Happy Valley Karikari moved to Happy Valley in January 2008. He scored 9 goals in the remainder of the season. Although the club decided to use a youth strategy for 2009–10 season, his contract was renewed. The club finished last of the 10 clubs in the season and Karikari left the club for TSW Pegasus.
Pegasus Karikari joined Pegasus. On 11 September 2010, he scored 3 goals in TSW Pegasus' 5:1 victory over HKFC. 高梵連中三元 飛馬大破港會開齋 Wen Wei Po. 11 September 2010 On 1 April 2011, he scored another hat-trick against Tai Chung FC in a 7–1 win. 南華贏公民4強撼晨曦 Oriental Daily. 1 April 2011. In total, he scored 13 goals for TSW Pegasus in all local competitions in the 2010–11 season.2010-11 Top Scorers www.hkfa.com Retrieved 22 September 2011.
In the 2011–12 season, Karikari continued his good form by scoring 6 goals in 3 games, including a hat-trick against Sham Shui Po on 24 September 2011. 港甲天水圍飛馬4比0大勝深水埗 Commercial Radio Hong Kong. 24 September 2011. He was voted Most Valuable Player of Month in September 2011 by the Hong Kong Sports Press Association. 高梵當選體記協會 「9月最有價值球員」 Wen Wei Po. 31 October 2011.
Henan Jianye On 13 June 2012, Karikari moved to mainland China and signed a contract with Chinese Super League side Henan Jianye. 建业签香港籍锋将 原籍加纳完成二次转会首签 QQ.com. 13 June 2012. He joined as a Hong Kong Chinese player and therefore not occupying any foreigners quotas of the club. 高梵轉戰中超 今投河南建業 Goal.com. 13 June 2012. He made his debut for Henan on 23 June, in a 0–0 away draw against Dalian Shide. 高梵首秀徐洋击中横梁 大连实德0-0战平河南建业 Shangdu. 23 June 2012. His first goal for Henan came on 4 days later, which ensured Henan beat Chongqing Lifan 2–0 in the third round of 2012 Chinese FA Cup. 足协杯-卡通戈高梵破门 河南建业2-0力帆将战恒大 Sina. 27 June 2012.
Shenzhen Ruby In February 2014, Karikari transferred to China League One side Shenzhen Ruby. 红钻签下了五名内援 Sina. 1 March 2014.
Beijing Baxy In July 2014, Karikari transferred to another China League One club Beijing Baxy. 八喜最后一名新外援亮相 高梵展示33号战袍(图) Sohu. 29 July 2014.
Qingdao Huanghai On 4 January 2016, Karikari signed by another China League One club Qingdao Huanghai. 中甲浪人高梵又轉會 Apple Daily. 6 January 2016.
R&F After six years abroad, Karikari returned to Hong Kong's top flight, and signed with R&F on 19 January 2018.
On 19 June 2019, head coach Yeung Ching Kwong announced that Karikari would not be retained.
Kitchee On 5 February 2020, Karikari signed with another HKPL club Kitchee. However, he failed to make any appearances during his spell at the club due to the spreading of Coronavirus which makes the HKPL being suspended from mid of March 2020.
Karikari left the club after his contract expired in July 2020.
International career Karikari spent more than seven years playing football in Hong Kong. He received his Hong Kong Permanent Identity Card on 7 February 2011. His lack of a Hong Kong SAR passport meant he was unable to be registered as a Hong Kong player in the 2011 AFC Cup and was also unable to represent Hong Kong in international matches. 足球 科夫高梵領港身份證 Apple Daily. 8 February 2011 Due to his late application, he didn't receive his passport to represent Hong Kong until November 2011. 高梵錯過為港出戰龍騰盃 Hong Kong Daily News. Retrieved 22 September 2011. On 2 December, he was called up by caretaker Hong Kong coach Liu Chun Fai for the 2012 Guangdong-Hong Kong Cup squad. 麥基、高梵被召踢省港盃 Apple Daily. 2 December 2011. Godfred Karikari scored on his debut for Hong Kong in the 2012 Guangdong-Hong Kong Cup as the match ended 2–2. 鄭少偉高梵各入一球 港隊和波唔抵！ Apple Daily. 29 December 2011.
On 11 April 2012, Hong Kong head coach Ernie Merrick confirmed that Karikari's association change had been approved and he could represent the Football Association of Hong Kong.高梵可代表港足踢國際賽 Wen Wei Po. 12 April 2012.
On 1 June 2012, Karikari made his international debut for Hong Kong in a friendly match against Singapore.
Karikari scored his first international goal for Hong Kong against Bhutan on 11 June 2015 in a 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifier.
Career statistics Club Updated 5 February 2020 Club performance League Cup League Cup Continental Total Season Club League Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Hong Kong League FA Cup & Shield League Cup Asia Total2002–03FukienHong Kong First Division — 2003–04 3 0 0— 32004–051313020—1812005–06Rangers1241031—1652006–071792032—22112007–08832100—104Happy Valley611111—832008–092292010—2592009–1016410——1742010–11Pegasus16933210021132011–1217117130—2712 China PR League FA Cup CSL Cup Asia Total2012Henan JianyeChinese Super League9021——1112013China League One7100——712014Shenzhen Ruby5100——51Beijing Baxy13300——133201522351——2742016Qingdao Huanghai24400——244201721100——211 Hong Kong League FA Cup & Shield Sapling Cup Asia Total2017–18R&FHong Kong Premier League6 2 0 0 0 0 —6 22018–192 0 0 0 2 0 —4 02019–20Kitchee0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Total Hong Kong 00 China PR1011372000010815 Career total 00
International
National teamYearAppsGoalsHong Kong 2012 2 0 2013 3 0 2014 1 0 2015 7 2 2016 6 1 2017 4 1Total244
Updated 15 October 2013 #DateVenueOpponentResultScoredCompetition28 December 2011Hong Kong Stadium, So Kon Po, Hong KongGuangdong2–212012 Guangdong-Hong Kong Cup1 January 2012Huizhou Olympic Stadium, Huizhou, ChinaGuangdong0–0 (5–4 PSO)02012 Guangdong-Hong Kong Cup11 June 2012Hong Kong Stadium, So Kon Po, Hong Kong1–00Friendly210 June 2012Mong Kok Stadium, Mong Kok, Hong Kong1–20Friendly6 September 2013Thuwunna Stadium, Yangon, Myanmar0–00Friendly310 September 2013Mong Kok Stadium, Mong Kok, Hong Kong1–00Friendly415 October 2013Hong Kong Stadium, Mong Kok, Hong Kong0–40Friendly515 November 2013Mohammed Bin Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates0–402015 AFC Asian Cup qualification
International goals Updated 5 October 2017 GoalDateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition 1 11 June 2015 Mong Kok Stadium, Hong Kong 7–0 7–0 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification 2 8 September 2015 Mong Kok Stadium, Hong Kong 2–3 2–3 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification 3 6 October 2016 Olympic Stadium, Cambodia 1–0 2–0 Friendly 4 5 October 2017 Mong Kok Stadium, Hong Kong 3–0 4–0 Friendly
Honours Club Henan Jianye China League One: 2013
International Hong Kong Guangdong-Hong Kong Cup: 2012
References
External links Godfred Karikari at HKFA Profile at TSW Pegasus FC