Tarkwa, in the Western region of Ghana has tasted elite football in the past with the town's last club in the topflight dating back to the late 70s.
But their hopes of staying for long in the big league was short-lived as Tarkwa Gold Stars after making it into the elite division in 1979 bowed out after the second season in 1980.
And so, elite football for the Tarkwa Community went with the demise of Tarkwa Gold Stars, a team which produced some fantastic players like Affranie, Opoku Nti who went on to become an Asante Kotoko and a Ghana great.
Twenty-nine years on and another side from the area is desirous to end the wait.
Ahead of the promotion playoffs which begins Sunday, Real Tarkwa United are hoping to emulate their past heroes.
The team has a wonderful project backed by one of the main architects of Ghana's qualification to her maiden senior's World Cup.
Gold Fields Ghana, who did help Ghana reach the World Cup in 2006 after several failed attempts have been sponsoring Real Tarkwa United for the past five years.
That arrangement has modeled the club into a force in the Division One league campaign.
Now, they are three matches away over a six-day period from being part of the premier league as they have to play Ebusua Dwarfs, Gold Stars and New Edubiase in the playoffs which starts this weekend.
Dr Toni Aubynn, Director of Corporate Affairs at Gold Fields Ghana Limited in a statement said: "since the demise of the then dreaded Tarkwa Gold Stars which produced players like Opoku Nti, Affranie and co, it has always been our quest to take Premier league football to the people of Tarkwa, a main area of our operations in Ghana. Tarkwa United’s qualification for the playoffs has brought tremendous joy to the people of Tarkwa and Damang and the surrounding towns. We hope they will be able to cap their efforts with a place in next season’s Premier League."
For the club, the support of Gold Fields Ghana has been immense.
"We are really grateful for the support of Gold Fields in bringing us to this point. The players and the technical team as well as the fans have also been incredible in achieving this feat. We are now focused on emerging winners over the three games to play in the Premier league," said Ahmed Zarouk, chairman of Real Tarkwa United.
The promotion campaigners have been placed in three Groups of four each and will engage each other in the Group to determine the winners after three rounds of matches.
But from Zone II, the hopes of Tarkwa qualifying to the topflight would be determined.
Other battles
A premiership debutant would emerge from Zone I which has Guan United, Universal Stars, Bechem United and Aduana Stars all jostling for the sole place from that group.
In Zone II, former premiership side, Ebusua Dwarfs would have beat off competition from Tarkwa United, Gold Stars and New Edubiase to stage a comeback to the topflight.
But the tough situation in Zone III which involves three former premiership clubs is expected to generate much excitement.
Great Olympics, Okwahu United and Real Sportive have had stints in the premier league but they have Tudu Mighty Jets to contend with.
Zone I
Match Day I – August 16, 2009
Guan United vrs Aduana Stars - Baba Yara Stadium, Kumasi Universal Stars vrs Bechem FC - Wesley College Park, Kumasi
Zone II
Match Day I – August 16, 2009
Tarkwa United vrs Gold Stars - Tema Park, Tema New Edubiase FC vrs Dwarfs - Ohene Djan Stadium, Accra
Zone III
Match Day I – August 16, 2009
Real Sportive vrs Great Olympics - Robert Mensah Stadium, Cape Coast Mighty Jets vrs Okwawu United - Gyandu Park, Sekondi
