Facilitators of the football clinic in a photo with the participants
AA Sports International, a non-profit organization, held its maiden Women’s Football Clinic in Suhum-Akyem Akooko in the Eastern Region on Saturday, September 14.
Themed “Supporting and Promoting Women’s Football,” the one-day event aimed to inspire females to strive for greatness through football and education with Okyeman Girls Football Academy.
Young females between the ages of 11-19 had the opportunity to answer questions from the guest speakers, enjoy cultural displays and poem recitations, and receive sports equipment (jerseys, balls, sanitary pads, among others) presented by AA Sports International, led by Patron Kudjoe Fianoo.
Speaking at the event, Gifty Ayew Asare, an ex-Ghanaian international and current Women’s U18 Assistant Coach, touched on the importance of staying focused to overcome obstacles that may hinder their progress as they embark on their journey.
According to her, despite being stigmatized, she defied all odds to gain a scholarship to travel to the United States to pursue her football dreams while still studying for her degree.
“I knew where I came from, in a small village in Assin Fosu. It was tough for me as a woman among the boys training before I moved to Accra. Because I was focused and wanted to play at the highest level, I never gave up. People will try to bring you down with their words, but you have to stand your ground and keep pushing. I had the support of my grandma, who I stayed with before relocating to Accra to further my career," she said.
Speaking on behalf of parents, she urged them to give the girl child the opportunity to pursue their football career and not always assign them to household chores.
Gifty, who currently works as the Assistant Coach of Women’s Premier League side Epiphany Warriors, assured the audience of organizing trials to recruit players to the national team.
Another speaker at the event, Maurice Quansah, Sports Editor with the Graphic Communications Group and a Women’s Football Advocate, said everyone should be uplifted in society and that opportunities must be created for women as equally as for men.
“When you look at our population in Ghana, women outnumber men. So once you create opportunities for men, you must also create the same for women. Kwegyir Aggrey said, ‘Once you educate a man, you educate an individual, but when you educate a woman, you educate a whole nation.’ I will say if you empower a woman, you empower the entire community, and for me, that is what I stand for. We always talk about the Black Stars, but the first Ghanaian team to play in the senior World Cup was the women in 1999, so it tells you the potential in women’s football. Over the years, the game has grown with the opportunities it comes with," he said.
He added that it is prudent to push energy into uplifting women in various communities, and he was excited to be part of this great initiative by AA Sports International.
Patron of AA Sports International, Kudjoe Fianoo, said giving to women is a good gesture, adding that in most institutions, because of the trust in them, the position of Treasurer is always given to them.
“They are special, and that is why most of us are seen supporting whatever way to grow women’s football. I think what we have done for Okyeman Girls Football Academy is a manifestation of what we have, and we can’t say much but thank the people of Akyem-Akooko for the good reception and the founder of AA Sports International, Mark Adu Amofah, for giving back to society. We all have to help because we have female coaches, physiotherapists, among others," he said.
He added that more females should be trained in other areas so these footballers will be happy seeing their fellow gender rendering their support to them.
Receiving the items on behalf of Okyeman Girls Football Academy, Priscilla Yeboah, together with the President, Cornelius Annor Asare, thanked AA Sports International for the support and also called on other organizations to come to their aid as they prepare to partake in the 2024/25 Women’s Division One League in the Eastern Region.
