Undoubtedly, any player who is part of the first team of any of the national teams in the country is indeed a good player, considering the height that Ghana football is gradually attaining internationally.
No ordinary material qualifies to play for the nation these days. Anyone who dons the national colours must be a worthy ambassador, therefore being in the first team suggests that the effort of a player has been recognised, valued and seen as a contributing factor to the group's success.
Getting to such height in a football career demands a lot of sacrifice and hard work. One would often have to pay a price and surmount very difficult challenges to get there.
Rumanatu Tahiru, a current member of the Black Queens, is one player who has made a huge investment to secure a place in the team.
I spoke to her at the Ghanaman Soccer Centre of Excellence where the team camped prior to the recent African Women's Championship in Equatorial Guinea.
As a player who developed interest in football right from childhood, Rumanatu said, “I willingly played football with my mates at the primary level.”
She kept playing until she was selected at the then junior secondary school level to be part of the school team for a zonal competition. As part of her rise to fame, she also played for Philips Football Club, a commercial school in Tema.
Spotted while watching a game between Ashaiman Ladies and Philips of Tema on another occasion, she was recommended at half-time to play for Mighty Ladies on a hired basis.
Her performance, she said, was so impressive that Mighty Ladies invited her to train often with the team. After maintaining her good performance for sometime, the club decided to register her. But being a personality who places much premium on education she decided to go back to Chemu Secondary School, something she had suspended previously.
Nonetheless, she bounced back later to continue her romance with Ashaiman Ladies. Her interest in football kept soaring, informing her decision to join the Greater Accra women's league. She maintained a consistent form in the league till she was selected into the national women's team.
Rumanatu Tahiru, popularly known as “RO, the maestro” has since been an integral part of the Black Queens set-up, participating in two matches of the last World Cup, as well as featuring in the qualifiers against Cote d'Ivoire.
She has gained a wealth of experience playing in his favourite outside right position. She comes in handy with her sharp and accurate crosses, while joining the midfield action when not in possession.
She further cuts in deep to support the strikers when the team is attacking from the left, and also goes back to support the right full back when necessary. “RO” is also an expert in initiating attacks.
Just like any successful person, Rumanatu is confronted with a tough decision to make. As somebody who believes in education, she's faced with the task of combining education and football. As she rightly put it, “combining education and football is not easy but I will succeed with determination”.
She had tried very hard to keep her focus, but just after entering Ada Teachers Training College, she earned her first call-up into the national team. And being a native of the land she could not refuse the offer.
In spite of that “RO” has an ambition of going to the university though that dream is on hold for the mean time.
Due to the short span of women footballers, “RO” has thought it wise to end her football career early so she could go back and pursue her academic life.
Disappointments in her career cannot be forgotten either, as a scholarship opportunity for her to play and school simultaneously abroad failed because one party could not fulfill its part of the bargain.
“Football runs through the family”, she revealed, obviously to emphasise the fact that what she's doing now is nothing new. If Abu Iddrisu of the Black Starlets '95 team is a relation, then “RO” is indeed home with football.
She explained that she had brothers who were actively into football but could not go far with their careers due to severe injuries. One of them, according her, currently plays for Ebony Academy based in Community 5, Tema.
She is the only person in the family who has attained higher heights in football, and that is indicative of a strong-willed character.
“I want to prove to all and sundry that some footballers are not truant as is generally perceived”, that was Ramanatu's parting words. In simple terms she represents the value added group of sports women.
The Ashaiman community has produced seasoned players such as Kofi Nimo, Awudu Issaka and Ablade Morgan, as well as the former Black Queens player, Kulu Yahaya, who have brought some pride to the area.
Football enthusiasts in the area strongly believe it is now the turn of Rumanatu Tahiru to showcase their pride.
She is already contributing her quota and hopefully, other up-and-coming sportsmen and women would emulate her example. Profile by Ernest Tetteh Kabu
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