On 30th March 2021, the Ghana Football Association announced Hasaacas Ladies as the country’s representative in the maiden edition of the CAF Women’s Champions League. A portion of the release reads “Article 2 section 2.3 of the CAF Women’s Champions League 2021 Regulation permits the GFA Executive Council to decide on who represents Member Associations in the Champions League.”
Hasaacas Ladies were champions of the GFA Normalization Special Competition, hence gaining the nod of the Association to play in the competition.
The news of Hasaacas Ladies traveling to the Ivory Coast for the CAF Women’s Champions League is not only upsetting but disappointing. It’s not great news for a team that is going to represent Ghana, a football country, to travel 13 hours (698.6 km) when countries that are closer to Ivory Coast are making arrangements to fly their participants.
For many people, this comes as wonderful news probably because Hasaacas Ladies are the best to represent the country considering their pedigree and reputation when it comes to women’s football in the country. They have produced many talented female players as such Linda Eshun, Janet Egyir, Jennifer Cudjoe, Samira Suleman among others.
I am fully aware of the financial problems female club owners face in this country! I know the authorities will not go all out for them as they do for the males clubs.
Ghana Premier League side, Asante Kotoko received $50,000 and GHS300,000 from the President of the land and the Sports Ministry respectively before the start of the Africa campaign last year.
Miraculously, there is no word from the sports ministry although, they have been informed officially.
As for the Ghana Football Association, the “no money” syndrome is their middle name when it comes to women’s football or any other teams apart from their darling team, the Black Stars.
‘’You can rest assured that the GFA will give you the needed support to excel in this competition. We do not really mind granting you access to the Ghanaman center of Excellence in Pampram to camp your players ahead of the tournament” said the GFA president, Kurt Okraku when the Executives of the club called on him.
As it stands now, there has been no financial support for the team. None from the GFA, Sports Ministry, or any corporate entity.
As a country that believes in miracles and wonders, we are praying to the almighty for a good result as usual.
By: Ayishatu Zakaria Ali. @ayishatu_