Raphael Ohin

Raphael Ohin
Ohin in 2023
Personal information
Date of birth (1995-05-25) 25 May 1995 (age 29)
Place of birth Accra, Ghana
Height 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in)
Position(s) Midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Valour FC
Number 27
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2016–2018 WSA Winnipeg 25 (5)
2019– Valour FC 75 (2)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 19 October 2024

Raphael Ohin (born 25 May 1995) is a Ghanaian professional footballer who plays for Canadian Premier League club Valour FC as a midfielder.

Early life

Ohin is a native of Accra, Ghana.[1] From 2008 to 2010, he played for an academy team in his native Ghana.[2] When he was 15, he attracted the attention of a scout for Swiss club FC Basel and was invited to a week-long trial with the club.[3] He impressed the club and was working on signing a professional academy contract, but ultimately was unable to.[3] Afterwards, he had a trial with German side Borussia Mönchengladbach, but again after impressing during his trial was unable to sign with the club.[3] Afterwards, he went to trial with a club in Thailand, who kept him for four months, but were not willing to pay him the desired amount his agent was asking for and he returned to Ghana.[3] He then trialled with Swedish club Bodens BK, but did not sign a contract.[3] In 2015, he went to Canada, after initially planning to join Premier Development League club K-W United, he never ended up trialling with the club, instead heading to Vancouver to trial with Whitecaps FC 2, but did not earn a contract and returned to Ghana.[3] In 2016, he moved to Winnipeg, Canada, to live with his aunt.[4]

Club career

From 2016 to 2018, Ohin played with WSA Winnipeg in the Premier Development League.[5][6] Initially, he was restricted to playing home games only (as well as road games against the Thunder Bay Chill, the only other Canadian team in the division), as he had been unable to secure a visa to be able to travel to the United States, where the majority of the clubs were located.[7]

In January 2019, Ohin signed his first professional contract, joining Canadian Premier League club Valour FC on a multi-year contract.[8][9] He made his debut on May 11, 2019, in a substitute appearance against HFX Wanderers FC.[10] In October 2020, he re-signed with the club for the 2021 season.[11][12] On July 3, 2021, he scored his first goal for the club against Atlético Ottawa.[13][14][15] He was ranked #34 in the league's top 50 players in 2021.[16][17] In December 2021, he again re-signed with the club for another season.[18] In March 2022, on the first day of pre-season training camp, Ohin suffered an ACL injury, which caused him to miss the entire 2022 season.[19][20][21] In December 2022, he re-signed with the club for the 2023 season.[22][23] After missing all but two matches through the 2022 and 2023 seasons due to recurring knee injuries,[24] Ohin re-signed with the club for the 2024 season.[25][26] He was subsequently name team captain ahead of the 2024 season.[27][28] In December 2024, the club picked up his option for the 2025 season.[29][30]

Personal life

Due to his playing style, he has been nicknamed "The Rhino".[31][32] Ohin is a practicing Christian and credits his faith for his success.[33] In March 2021, he obtained his Canadian permanent residency.[3][34] Since arriving in Winnipeg, he has collected soccer equipment to distribute to the youth back in his native Ghana.[35]

He served as a youth soccer coach with WSA Winnipeg and the St. Charles Soccer Association, before signing a professional contract with Valour in January 2019.[36]

Career statistics

As of match played October 19, 2024[37]
Club Season League Playoffs National cup Continental Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
WSA Winnipeg 2016[38] Premier Development League 9 1 — — — 9 1
2017[39] 8 4 — — — 8 4
2018[40] 8 0 — — — 8 0
Total 25 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 25 5
Valour FC 2019 Canadian Premier League 20 0 — 2 0 — 22 0
2020 7 0 — — — 7 0
2021 26 1 — 2 0 — 28 1
2022 0 0 — 0 0 — 0 0
2023 1 0 — 1 0 — 2 0
2024 21 1 — 0 0 — 21 1
Total 75 2 0 0 5 0 0 0 80 2
Career total 100 7 0 0 5 0 0 0 105 7

References

  1. ^ Tait, Ed (18 June 2020). "Raphael Ohin: "It's given me my dream to play a game I love." - Ohin and Antwi achieving dreams in Winnipeg". Valour FC.
  2. ^ "Valour FC inks youngsters Raphael Ohin and Raphaël Garcia to multi-year deals". Canadian Premier League. 10 January 2019.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g O'Connor-Clarke, Charlie (2 April 2021). "From Ghana to Valour FC: Raphael Ohin's long road to Canadian permanent residency". Canadian Premier League.
  4. ^ Frey Sam, Joshua (30 December 2021). ""The goal is to win. I have a championship mentality going into next season." - Ohin returns for 2022". Valour FC.
  5. ^ Tait, Ed (24 October 2020). "Valour FC Snapshot: Raphael Ohin". Valour FC.
  6. ^ Tait, Ed (16 June 2021). "Raphael Ohin an attacking threat? Valour FC midfielder continues development into 2021". Canadian Premier League.
  7. ^ "Valour FC midfielder Raphael Ohin recounts his painful experience before acquiring Canadian citizenship". Football Ghana. 3 April 2021.
  8. ^ "Valour FC's Raphael Ohin thankful for blessings along the road to 1st professional contract". Canadian Premier League. 11 January 2019.
  9. ^ "WSA Winnipeg's Ralph Ohin Signs Pro Contract with Valour FC". WSA Winnipeg. 10 January 2019.
  10. ^ "Raphael Ohin profile". Eikon Sports.
  11. ^ Jacques, John (23 October 2020). "Valour FC Re-Signs Raphael Ohin". Northern Tribune.
  12. ^ Tait, Ed (26 October 2020). "Raphael Ohin staying in Winnipeg for 2021 CPL season: 'I'm a Valour guy'". Canadian Premier League.
  13. ^ Opoku Amoako, Yaw (7 July 2021). "Raphael Ohin scores for the first time for Valour FC". Ghana Guardian.
  14. ^ "Ghanaian midfielder Raphael Ohin finally scores for Valour FC in Canada". Kick GH. 5 July 2021.
  15. ^ Thompson, Marty (6 July 2021). "Raphael Ohin, Valour FC thrilled to reunite with fans Wednesday: 'I do it to feel their energy'". Canadian Premier League.
  16. ^ O'Connor-Clarke, Charlie (13 December 2021). "CPL50 – 34. Raphael Ohin (Valour FC)". Canadian Premier League.
  17. ^ "Valour FC midfielder Richard Ohin named 34th best player in Canadian Premier League". Ghana Soccer Net. 14 December 2021.
  18. ^ Jacques, John (30 December 2021). "Ohin Returns For Fourth Season With Valour". Northern Tribune.
  19. ^ Jacques, John (31 March 2022). "Raphael Ohin To Miss 2022 Season". Northern Tribune.
  20. ^ Friesen, Paul (31 March 2022). "ACL claims Valour's Ohin". Winnipeg Sun.
  21. ^ Tait, Ed (31 March 2022). "Raphael Ohin: "I know it's going to be tough and it's going to take some mental strength, but I'll push through."". Valour FC.
  22. ^ "Valour FC announces return of midfielder Raphael Ohin". Canadian Premier League. 1 December 2022.
  23. ^ Okai Gyimah, Edmund (5 December 2022). "Ghanaian midfielder Raphael Ohin extends Valour FC stay". Sports World Ghana.
  24. ^ Tait, Ed (3 April 2024). "Raphael Ohin: "And so, when I step onto the field again for the first time this season, it's going to be really emotional."". Valour FC.
  25. ^ "Valour FC announces return of midfielder Raphael Ohin". Valour FC. 3 April 2024.
  26. ^ Jacques, John (3 April 2024). "Club Original Raphael Ohin Re-Signs With Valour". Northern Tribune.
  27. ^ Jacques, John (9 April 2024). "Valour Names Club Original Raphael Ohin Captain For 2024". Northern Tribune.
  28. ^ Tait, Ed (9 April 2024). "Raphael Ohin named Captain for 2024 Season". Valour FC.
  29. ^ "Valour FC announce return of hometown midfielder Raph Ohin". Valour FC. 12 December 2024.
  30. ^ Jacques, John (12 December 2024). "Seventh Season: Valour Original Raphael Ohin Re-Signs". Northern Tribune.
  31. ^ Tait, Ed (1 December 2022). ""This is going to be a new chapter in my story." - Player Profile: Raphael Ohin". Valour FC.
  32. ^ Tait, Ed (27 February 2023). ""I've never been out for so long and getting back on the field for Day 1 was a little bit emotional" - Raphael Ohin returns". Valour FC.
  33. ^ Giesbrecht, Libby (2 May 2019). "Raphael Ohin: 'The soccer field is my mission field'". CHVN-FM.
  34. ^ Tait, Ed (17 June 2021). ""It's going to be a big year. A lot of people will be expecting more from me. I'm excited" - Ohin ready to take the next step in 2021". Valour FC.
  35. ^ O'Connor-Clarke, Charlie (28 February 2023). "'The same Rhino, even more hungry': Valour's Ohin returns to the pitch aiming to build on 2021 impact". Canadian Premier League.
  36. ^ Wasney, Eva (25 January 2019). "Ohin signs with Valour". Winnipeg Free Press.
  37. ^ Raphael Ohin at Soccerway
  38. ^ "Raphael Ohin 2016 PDL Stats". USL League Two.
  39. ^ "Raphael Ohin 2017 PDL Stats". USL League Two.
  40. ^ "Raphael Ohin 2018 PDL Stats". USL League Two.