Queens At Crossroads

GHANA'S FEMALE National team, the Black Queens, left for Beijing on Monday to battle Brazil in a play-off match on April 19, 2008.

Reports reaching DAILY GUIDE SPORTS indicate that the head coach of the Queens, Mumuni Gamel, made the journey with 18 players, namely Memunatu Suleimana, Olivia Amoako, Aminatu Ibrahim, Ama Sabi, Doreen Awuah, Adjoa Bayor and Sylla Owusu.

Others were Gladys Quansah, Diana Ankomah, Florence Okoe, Gloria Oforiwaa, Portia Boakye, Yaa Avoe and Shilla Okine, Safia Abdul Rahman, Anita Amankwah, Patience Pobee and Liticia Zikpi. Seven officials also accompanied them on the trip.

Investigations revealed that the coach dropped some key players, with the likes of utility and left-footed Memuna Darko; Lydia Ankrah, who had defended the Queens for more than a decade; Doreen Nettey who was recovering from an injury and Rahmatu Tahiru, with a considerable physique, all missing from selection.

Sources close to the women's soccer officials opined that the Ghana Football Association (GFA) Management Committee of the Queens had not done its home work well ahead of the crucial play-off which takes place this Saturday at Workers' Stadium in Beijing, China.

According to the officials, if the Women's Football League had started earlier in the year, it would have put the players in good shape before their match against Brazil.

They disclosed that they had fought against the appointment of coaches who are handling men's football and were appointed last minute to lead the Queens in the Africa, Olympics and World Cup qualifiers.

They strongly believe the Queens deserve more than what the FA has been doing for them of late.

Officials revealed that the current Queens' technical crew had failed to inject unity, discipline and improvement into the national team, and also refused to tell Ghanaians the real problems with the Black Queens, looking at the broader picture.

It would be recalled that the Black Queens failed to clinch the automatic place from the African qualifiers when they lost to Nigeria's Super Falcons in the last game.

The game against Brazil will be played a day before the draw for the finals of the Olympic football tournament in June this year.

By Pierre Toto