NB: teams in bold face are record cup winners for their country;
teams in italics share the record number of cup wins in their country.
42 Linfield Northern Ireland
40 FC Vaduz Liechtenstein
35 Al-Ahly Egypt
Celtic Scotland
33 Rangers Scotland
31 Selangor Malaysia
30 Muharraq Bahrain
27 FK Austria (Wien) Austria
SL Benfica Portugal [1]
26 FC Barcelona Spain
HB Faroe Islands
25 Levski Sofia Bulgaria [3]
Olympiakos Greece
24 Crvena zvezda Yugoslavia/Serbia (and Montenegro)
Shamrock Rovers Ireland
Singapore Malaysia
Sparta Praha CSSR/CSFR/CR [4]
23 Athletic de Bilbao Spain
Cardiff City Wales/England [2]
Wrexham Wales
22 Maccabi Tel-Aviv Israel
Steaua Bucuresti Romania [5]
Wallidan Gambia
21 Al-Merreikh Sudan
Zamalek Egypt
20 Etoile Filante Burkina Faso
Ferencváros Hungary
Glentoran Northern Ireland
FC Porto Portugal [1]
Saunders SC Sri Lanka [13]
Sliema Wanderers Malta
19 APOEL Nicosia Cyprus
CSKA Sofia Bulgaria [3]
Dinamo Zagreb Yugoslavia/Croatia [7]
Djoliba AC Mali
Floriana Malta
Sporting CP Portugal [1]
18 Ajax Netherlands
Dinamo Kyiv Soviet Union/Ukraine [14]
Grasshopper Club Switzerland
Real Madrid Spain
17 ASEC Abidjan Ivory Coast
Al-Faisaly Jordan
Panathinaikos Greece
Stade Malien Mali
16 Hapoel Tel-Aviv Israel
15 Africa Sports Ivory Coast
Al-Arabi Kuwait
FC Bayern München (West) Germany
Hajduk Split Yugoslavia/Croatia [7]
Al-Hilal Saudi Arabia [17]
Legia Warszawa Poland
Partizani Tiranë Albania
SK Rapid (Wien) Austria/Germany [11]
Red Boys Luxembourg
SK Tirana Albania
14 AEK Greece
ASC Diaraf Senegal
Galatasaray Turkey
Malmö FF Sweden
Omonia Nicosia Cyprus
Al-Qadisiya Kuwait
Al-Zawra Iraq
13 Al-Ahli Saudi Arabia [17]
Al-Ansar Lebanon
DC Motema Pembe Congo-Kinshasa
Dinamo Bucuresti Romania
Dinamo Tiranë Albania
Espérance ST Tunisia
KR Iceland
Rapid Bucuresti Romania
Shahtar Donetsk Soviet Union/Ukraine [14]
Slavia Praha CSSR/CSFR/CR [4]
Spartak Moskva Soviet Union/Russia
12 Club Franciscain Martinique [6]
CSKA Moskva Soviet Union/Russia
Distillery Northern Ireland
Fire Brigade SC Mauritius
Haka (Valkeakoski) Finland
Jeunesse d'Esch Luxembourg
Kaizer Chiefs South Africa [18]
MTK Hungary
Mohun Bagan India
Odd Grenland Norway
Partizan (Beograd) Yugoslavia/Serbia (and Montenegro)
Al-Sadd Qatar
FC Sion Switzerland [20]
Valletta Malta
Vital'ô Burundi
11 APR FC Rwanda
FC Balzers Liechtenstein
FC Basel Switzerland
Canon Yaoundé Cameroon
Club Africain Tunisia
Costa do Sol Mozambique
Dinamo Tbilisi Soviet Union/Georgia [19]
FAR Rabat Morocco
Feyenoord Netherlands
Frederikstad FK Norway
Harlem Bombers Dominica
Manchester United England
Mekelakeya Ethiopia [includes Army, Mechal]
Pakhtakor Toshkent Uzbekistan
SS Saint-Louisienne Reunion
Scholars Cayman Islands
10 Anorthosis Famagusta Cyprus
Arsenal England
Club Brugge Belgium
Express Uganda
Gor Mahia Kenya
HJK Finland
Al-Ittihad Saudi Arabia [17]
Libertas San Marino
Mohammedan SC (Dhaka) Bangladesh
Mufulira Wanderers Zambia
New Radiant Maldives
North Village Bermuda
Olympique Marseille France
Queen's Park Scotland
AS Réal de Bamako Mali
Shelbourne (Northern) Ireland [16]
Swansea City Wales
Union Luxembourg Luxembourg
NB: running series in italics.
14 FC Vaduz Liechtenstein 1998-11
7 Djoliba AC Mali 1973-79
Pakhtakor Toshkent Uzbekistan 2001-07
SKA-PVO Bishkek Kyrgyzstan 1997-03
FC Vaduz Liechtenstein 1956-62
6 Avatiu FC Cook Islands 1992-97
Dinamo Tbilisi Georgia 1992-97
Libertas San Marino 1937-61 [only 6 cups played]
AS Magenta New Caledonia 2000-05
Muharraq Bahrain 1961-67 (65: no cup)
CE Principat Andorra 1994-99
Rapid Bucuresti Romania 1937-42
Shamrock Rovers Ireland 1964-69
FC Vaduz Liechtenstein 1966-71
Wallidan Gambia 1986-94 (89-91 no cups)
5 Assaut Martinique 1964-68
Cardiff City Wales 1967-71
Club Franciscain Martinique 2001-05
Dinamo Tiranë Albania 1950-54
Górnik Zabrze Poland 1968-72
Hajduk Split Yugoslavia 1972-77 [7] (75: no cup)
CS Hammam-Lif Tunisia 1946-50
HB Faroe Islands 1968-73 (70: no cup)
HB Faroe Islands 1978-82
KR Iceland 1960-64
Olympiakos Greece 1957-61 [8]
North Village Bermuda 2002-06
Reipas Lahti Finland 1972-76
Santa Coloma Andorra 2003-07
Santos Brazil 1961-65
Shamrock Rovers Ireland 1929-33
JS Vallée du Tir Nouméa New Caledonia 1964-68
Vital'O Burundi 1993-97
4 AS Adema Madagascar 2007-10
Al-Ahly Egypt 1981-85 (82: no cup)
Aruba Juniors Aruba 1952-55
ASEC Abidjan Ivory Coast 1967-70
Athletic Bilbao Spain 1930-33
Austria Wien Austria 2005-09 (08: no cup)
FC Balzers Liechtenstein 1981-84
SL Benfica Portugal 1949-53 (50: no cup)
sv Britannia Aruba 2008-11
Canon Yaoundé Cameroon 1975-78
CAPS United Zimbabwe 1980-83
Club Africain Tunisia 1967-70
AS Douanes Senegal 2002-05
CP Ela Nguema Eq. Guinea 1980-83
Fire Brigade SC Mauritius 1980-83
Al-Foutoua Syria 1988-91
Galatasaray Turkey 1963-66
Glentoran N. Ireland 1985-88
Grasshopper Club Switzerland 1940-43
FC Kalamu Zaire 1986-89
Al-Karama Syria 2007-10*
SoFK Lyn (Oslo) Norway 1908-11
Al-Merreikh Sudan 2005-08
Nakivubo Villa Uganda 1986-89
Odd SK (Skien) Norway 1903-06
Olympiakos Greece 1951-54
Omonia Nicosia Cyprus 1980-83
Real Bamako Mali 1966-69
Real Madrid Spain 1905-08
Real Republicans Ghana 1962-65
JS Ténéré Niger 1997-00
Wallidan Gambia 1971-74
Wallidan Gambia 2001-04
Zamalek Egypt 1957-60
10 Al-Hilal v Al-Merreikh Sudan 2002-12 (HHMMMMHMHM) (03: no cup)
9 FC Vaduz v FC Triesen Liechtenstein 1946-54 (TTTVTTVVV)
5 Selangor v Singapore Malaysia 1935-39 (llplp)
Steaua Bucuresti v Dinamo Bucuresti Romania 1986-90 (DSSSD) [5]
4 Selangor v Singapore Malaysia 1927-30 (l--p) [15]
Red Boys v Spora Luxembourg Luxembourg 1929-32 (RRRS)
Olympiakos v PAOK Saloniki Greece 1971-74 (OPOP)
Selangor v Singapore Malaysia 1978-81 (llpl)
Dinamo Tbilisi v Dinamo Batumi Georgia 1995-98 (TTTB)
Internazionale v Roma Italy 2005-08 (IIRR)
FC Vaduz vs USV Eschen/Mauren Liechtenstein 2009-12 (VVVE)
The Singapore Women's Challenge Cup had Tampines Rovers SC and Home United FC
playing each other in the final in 4 successive years (2001-2004); all four
were drawn and settled by a penalty shoot-out (Home United winning it in 2001
and 2002 and Tampines Rovers in 2003 and 2004).
4 Al-Merreikh b Al-Hilal Sudan 2005-08
3 SOFK Lyn (Oslo) b Odd SK (Skien) Norway 1908-10
Red Boys b Spora Luxembourg Luxembourg 1929-31
FC Triesen b FC Vaduz Liechtenstein 1946-48
FC Vaduz b FC Triesen Liechtenstein 1952-54
FC Vaduz b FC Schaan Liechtenstein 1960-62
Partizan Tiranë b Vllaznia Shkodër Albania 1966-70 (67,69: no cups)
FC Vaduz b FC Triesen Liechtenstein 1967-69
Steaua Bucuresti b Dinamo Bucuresti Romania 1969-71
Stade Malien b. Djoliba AC Mali 1984-86
Krama Yudha T. Berlian b Pelita Jaya Indonesia 1987-89
Kuala Lumpur b Kedah Malaysia 1987-89
Liberté FC b Ader FC Niger 1987-89
Steaua Bucuresti b Dinamo Bucuresti Romania 1987-89
Al-Faisaly b Al-Ramtha Jordan 1993-95
Dinamo Tbilisi b Dinamo Batumi Georgia 1995-97
SKA-PVO Bishkek b Jashtyk AA Kara-Su Kyrgyzstan 2001-03
Al-Faisaly b Al-Hussein Jordan 2001-04 (03 no cup)
Santa Coloma b Sant Juliŕ Andorra 2003-05
Dordoy-D. Naryn b Jashtyk AA Kara-Su Kyrgyzstan 2004-06
New Radiant b Valencia Maldives 2005-07
APR b ATRACO Rwanda 2006-08
FC Vaduz b USV Eschen/Mauren Liechtenstein 2009-11
All 3 Dinamo Tbilisi v Dinamo Batumi finals ended 1-0, the one in 1996
after extra time.
All 3 SKA-PVO v Jashtyk finals likewise ended 1-0.
All 3 New Radiant v Valencia finals ended 2-0.
Note that no fewer than 4 different countries on 3 continents had
repeated finals with the same winners in every year from 1987 to 1989.
The Namibian Christmas Cup (MTC Kersfeesbekertoernooi), which was
played as a league cup tournament (all 16 top level clubs enter) has
seen 4 editions from 2001 to 2004; all four featured Black Africa and
Civics in the final, and all four finals were won by Black Africa.
21 Singapore Malaysia 1921-41
18 FC Vaduz Liechtenstein 1995-12
17 FC Vaduz Liechtenstein 1946-62
11 Al-Arabi Kuwait 1962-72
Cardiff City Wales 1967-77
Al-Merreikh Sudan 2001-12 (03: no cup)
10 Al-Hilal Sudan 2002-12 (03: no cup)
Skonto Riga Latvia 1995-04
9 FC Triesen Liechtenstein 1946-54
Djoliba AC Mali 1973-81
Crvena zvezda Serbia-Mont. 1999-07
Pakhtakor Toshkent Uzbekistan 2001-09
8 Sliema Wanderers Malta 1935-46 (41-44: no cups)
Olympiakos Greece 1956-63 [8]
Rangers Scotland 1976-83
Wallidan Gambia 1998-05
7 Druids Wales 1880-86
Singapore Malaysia 1950-56
Celtic Scotland 1969-75 [9]
Steaua Bucuresti Romania 1984-90
Croatia Zagreb Croatia 1992-98
SKA-PVO Bishkek Kyrgyzstan 1997-03
An undesirable record is held by Jashtyk Ak Altyn Kara-Su, who lost six
consecutive finals in Kyrgyzstan from 2001 to 2006, the first five all
by 0-1 (the sixth by 0-4); the first three against SKA-PVO Bishkek and
the last three against Dordoy-Dinamo Naryn. Prior to their 'feat', this
sad record was shared by USM Alger, who appeared in five consecutive
Algerian cup finals from 1969 to 1973 and lost all of them, and Al-Ramtha,
who did the same in Jordan from 1993 to 1997.
23 Selangor v Singapore Malaysia (Se11-Si10) [15]
15 Celtic v Rangers Scotland (C 7 - R 7) [10]
Levski Sofia v CSKA Sofia Bulgaria (L 8 - C 7) [3]
Linfield v Glentoran Northern Ireland (L 8 - G 7)
FC Vaduz v FC Triesen Liechtenstein (V 9 - T 6)
14 Floriana v Sliema Wanderers Malta (F 8 - S 6)
FC Vaduz v USV Eschen/Mauren Liechtenstein (V11 - E 3)
13 Al-Ahly v Zamalek Egypt (A 7 - Z 4) [21]
FC Vaduz v FC Balzers Liechtenstein (V10 - B 3)
11 Olympiakos v Panathinaikos Greece (O 5 - P 5) [8]
Stade Malien v Djoliba AC Mali (S 6 - D 5)
Steaua Bucuresti v Dinamo Bucuresti Romania (S 7 - D 4) [5]
10 Benfica v FC Porto Portugal (B 9 - P 1) [1]
Benfica v Sporting CP Portugal (B 7 - S 3) [1]
Dynamo Zagreb v Hajduk Split Yugoslavia/Croatia(D 5 - H 5) [7]
Mohammedan v Abahani Bangladesh (M 6 - A 2) [22]
Al-Qadisiya v Al-Arabi Kuwait (Q 6 - A 4)
Slavia Praha v Sparta Praha Czechoslovakia (Sl 5-Sp 4) [4]
9 Austria Wien v Rapid Wien Austria (A 5 - R 4)
Cardiff City v Wrexham Wales (C 5 - W 4)
Crvena zvezda v Partizan Beograd Yugoslavia (C 5 - P 4)
FC Vaduz v FC Schaan Liechtenstein (V 8 - S 1)
8 Athletic Bilbao v Real Madrid Spain (A 6 - M 2)
Dinamo Tiranë v Partizani Tiranë Albania (D 6 - P 2)
Floriana v Valletta Malta (F 5 - V 3)
Maccabi Tel-Aviv v Hapoel Tel-Aviv Israel (M 5 - H 3)
Olympiakos v PAOK Saloniki Greece (O 5 - P 3)
Singapore v Penang Malaysia (S 5 - P 3) [15]
Sliema Wanderers v Hibernians Malta (S 5 - H 3)
7 Djoliba AC vs AS Real Bamako Mali (D 4 - R 3)
Grasshopper Club v Servette FC Switzerland (G 4 - S 3)
Red Boys v Spora Luxembourg Luxembourg (R 5 - S 2)
NB: Sudan (Al-Hilal vs Al-Merreikh) not included as losing finalists are not known
before 1998; since then, the two clubs met 11 times up to and including 2011,
Hilal winning 6 and Merreikh winning 5 finals.
15 goals
Slavia Praha v SS Plincner 13-2 Bohemia and Moravia, 1941 [12]
14 goals
Amateure Wien v Slovan Wien 8-6 Austria, 1924 [aet] [11]
Bohemia Praha v Sparta Praha 8-6 Bohemia and Moravia, 1942 [12]
13 goals
Betar Tel-Aviv v Maccabi Haifa 12-1 Israel, 1942
12 goals
Ferencváros v Újpest 11-1 Hungary, 1933
VB v HB 7-5 Faroe Islands, 1974
WBC v Inter Moengotapoe 6-6 Surinam, 2009 [5-3 pen]
11 goals
Linfield v Bohemians 10-1 Ireland, 1895
CFR Bucuresti v Ripensia 6-5 Romania, 1935
Willem II v Groene Ster 9-2 Netherlands, 1944
10 goals
Slavia Praha v CAFC Vinohrady 10-0 Czechoslovakia, 1926 [12]
Lausanne-Sports v Nordstern 10-0 Switzerland, 1935
Grasshopper v Lausanne-Sports 10-0 Switzerland, 1937
AS Real Bamako v Africa Sports 8-2 Mali, 1969
Stade Malien vs Kayésienne 10-0 Mali, 1970
Austria Wien v Rapid Wien 6-4 Austria, 1986 [aet]
Dinamo Bucuresti v Steaua 6-4 Romania, 1990
The 1940 Romanian final went to three replays:
Rapid Bucuresti 2-2, 4-4, 2-2, 2-1 Venus Bucuresti
The first match was played on April 30, 1940, the last on November 8 - requiring
more than half a year to determine the winners. Iuliu Baratky of Rapid scored
in all four matches (twice in the third).
If the above is a record for Europe, the third edition of the Singapore Amateur
Football Association Challenge Cup, played in 1894, saw double the number of
replays: six, and even after the last match the winners had not been determined.
Even more intriguingly, there was only one 'club' in the final, a military unit:
the 10th Lincolnshire Regiment, which had entered two teams in the tournament,
in which five teams played:
Final [Sep 7]
10th Lincolnshire Regiment I 0-0 10th Lincolnshire Regiment II
Final Replay [Sep 10]
10th Lincolnshire Regiment I 0-0 10th Lincolnshire Regiment II [aet (2x5 mins)]
Final Second Replay [Sep 14]
10th Lincolnshire Regiment I 2-2 10th Lincolnshire Regiment II [aet (2x5 mins)]
Final Third Replay [Sep 21]
10th Lincolnshire Regiment I 1-1 10th Lincolnshire Regiment II [aet (2x5 mins)]
Final Fourth Replay [Oct 11]
10th Lincolnshire Regiment I 0-0 10th Lincolnshire Regiment II
Final Fifth Replay [Oct 29]
10th Lincolnshire Regiment I 1-1 10th Lincolnshire Regiment II
Final Sixth Replay [Nov ?]
10th Lincolnshire Regiment I drw 10th Lincolnshire Regiment II
NB: date and score of the last match unknown; all finals played over 2x30 minutes,
with most but possibly not all replays going to extra time. In order to settle
the issue, on November 28, 1894, the 22 names of the players from both teams
were put into a hat, from which 11 names were drawn to receive the available
medals; among the 11 winners, 3 were from the first team and 8 from the second.
Roma beat all Italian European Cup winners of 1989/90 during their 1990/91 campaign to win the Coppa Italia: QF: Roma 1-1 2-0 Juventus (UEFA Cup) SF: Milan (CC) 0-0 0-1 Roma F: Roma 3-1 1-1 Sampdoria (CWC) [Milan also won the Intercontinental Cup and the Super Cup in both 1989/90 and 1990/91, so Roma eliminated all European holders of international cups.] Amateur club Eintracht Trier beat both German winners of European silverware in 1996/97 during their campaign in the 1997/98 DFB-Pokal: 1: Eintracht Trier 1-0 Schalke 04 (UEFA Cup) 2: Eintracht Trier 2-1 Borussia Dortmund (CC) FC Sion won all ten Swiss Cup Finals they played: in 1965, 1974, 1980, 1982, 1986, 1991, 1995, 1996, 1997 and 2006; they will contest their 11th final in 2009. Leeds United and Cardiff City met in the third round of the FA Cup in three consecutive seasons: 1955/56, 1956/57, and 1957/58. Not only did Cardiff on each of these occasions eliminate Leeds in Leeds - they also did it by the identical 2-1 scoreline on all three occasions!
[1] This includes both the "Campeonato de Portugal" from 1921/22 to 1937/38
and its successor tournament "Taça de Portugal" which was held since
1938/39 season.
[2] This includes the English Cup won by Cardiff City in 1926/27 as well as
22 Welsh cups.
[3] The totals for Levski and CSKA contain the Soviet Army cups won up
to and including 1982; Levski won 13 of those (and 3 after 1981), CSKA
9 (and 4 after 1981). Of the 15 finals between the two teams, 7 were
for the Soviet Army Cup (up to 1982), Levski winning 4, CSKA 3; the 1982
final for the Cup of Bulgaria (won by Levski) is not included as the
tournament was still secondary to the Soviet Army Cup that year.
The 1985 final between the two teams (CSKA winning 2-1) was first
declared void but later returned to CSKA. Levski's total includes the
1942 Tzar's Cup but not the 1982 Cup of Bulgaria (secondary to the
Soviet Army Cup); CSKA's total does not included the 4-team Cup of
Bulgaria 1981 (secondary to the Soviet Army Cup).
[4] Totals include Stredoceský pohár, Ceský pohár 1939-45, Czechoslovak
cups 1946-93, Czech cups since 1994. Sparta has won the Stredoceský
pohár 9 times, Ceský pohár 2 times during the war, 8 Czechoslovak
cups and 5 Czech cups. Slavia won the Stredoceský pohár 8 times, Ceský
pohár 2 times during the war, 3 Czech cups. Of the 10 finals between the
two, 7 were for the Stredoceský pohár, 2 for the Ceský pohár.
The two teams were also to meet in the 1937 final for the Stredoceský
pohár, which was never played (but included as one of the ten
finals to be played between the two). Finally, Sparta and Slavia also met
each other 3 times in the Czech cup final when it served as a semifinal for
the Czechoslovak cup; of those, Sparta won 2, Slavia 1.
[5] The 1988 final was stopped at 1-1 just before the end, after Steaua
had left the field as protest to having a goal disallowed. The match
was later awarded 2-1 to Steaua, but after the revolution of 1989
Steaua gave the cup to Dinamo. However, according to the official
records of the FRF, the cup is Steaua's, so it is included in their
total.
[6] Total for ASC Diaraf includes that of Foyer France.
[7] Dinamo Zagreb and Hajduk Split now are in the Croatian league after Yugoslavia
broke up. Hajduk won 9 Yugoslav and 6 Croatian cups, Dinamo 7 Yugoslav and 12
Croatian ones (including the one won in 1941 by Gradjanski).
They played each other 4 times in the Yugoslav cup final (each winning 2) and
5 times in the Croatian cup final (3 won by Hajduk, 2 by Dinamo).
[8] The 1962 final between Olympiakos and Panathinaikos was abandoned.
The 1964 semifinal between the same teams also was abandoned, leaving
AEK as only finalists and interrupting the run of Olympiakos between
1956 and 1966 as Cup finalists, as well as their run of seven
consecutive wins between 1957 and 1965 (the 1964 Cup for AEK is not
always listed). (Details on Olympiakos' run.)
[9] Celtic appeared in 14 consecutive finals of the Scottish League
Cup between 1965 and 1978.
[10] The 1909 Cup was withheld after riots following the draw between
Celtic and Rangers in the replay.
Celtic and Rangers met each other another 12 times in the
final of the Scottish League Cup, Rangers winning 8, Celtic 4.
[11] Amateure are now known as Austria Wien. Rapid's total includes
their German Cup win in 1938 as well as 14 Austrian Cup wins.
[12] All finals for the Stredoceský pohár.
[13] Includes the Ceylon FA Cup (until 1987) and the Bristol Cup (since
1987).
[14] Dinamo Kyiv won 9 Soviet Cups and 9 Ukrainian Cups.
Shahtar Donetsk won 4 Soviet Cup and 9 Ukrainian Cups.
[15] Two cups (1928 and 1929) were shared.
[16] Shelbourne won 3 Irish Cups before the split between Northern Ireland
and the Republic, and 7 Cups in Ireland.
[17] This includes the Kings Cup competition from 1956/57 until 1989/90
and the Crown Prince Cup since 1990/91; Al-Ahli won 10 Kings Cups and 3
Crown Prince Cups in the relevant periods, Al-Hilal 6 Kings Cup and 9
Crown Prince Cups and Al-Ittihad also 6 Kings Cups and 4 Crown Prince
Cups; in addition Al-Ittihad won 3 Crown Prince Cups prior to 1990
(when it was a secondary cup tournament), Al-Ahli 2 and Al-Hilal 1.
[18] South African records include the NPSL 1971-1984 and the NSL/PSL
since the 1985 season.
[19] Dinamo Tbilisi won 2 Soviet Cups and 9 Georgian Cups.
[20] FC Sion played 12 Swiss cup finals (up to and including 2011) and
won them all!
[21] Two cups (1943 and 1958) were shared between Al-Ahly and Zamalek.
[22] One cup (1982) was shared between Mohammedan and Abahani while the
1984 final between the two was abandoned due to riots and the cup not
awarded.
Prepared and maintained by Karel Stokkermans for the Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation
Author: Karel Stokkermans
Last updated: 7 Jun 2013
(C) Copyright Karel Stokkermans and RSSSF 1995/2013
You are free to copy this document in whole or part provided that proper
acknowledgement is given to the author. All rights reserved.