"I'm not preoccupied with a starting role"~ Bayor

(From Veronica Commey, GNA Special Correspondent in Hanover, Germany}

Hanover, Oct. 22, GNA ~ Black Queens talented midfielder, Ajoa Bayor has joined her colleagues to step up their preparation towards the 7th African Women Championship (AWC} in South Africa insisting a starting role is the least on her mind.

The former captain of the side joins the team in Hanover, Germany for the first time in almost two years and obviously might need to fight for a starting role in the middle where the team relied on Portia Boakye, Florence Okoe and others to qualify for the biannual tourney. Bayor made the final list of 21 players selected for the AWC and tells GNA Sports that her desire is to propel the team with her experience.

"Without doubt every player loves to have a starting role but currently that is not my preoccupation. Firstly, I want to strive to be in the team and whatever role the coach will give me, I will like to give it my best shot."

The former Africa's best remains the only player to have featured in all previous six AWC editions and tells GNA Sports walking into the South African event which becomes her enviable seventh outing brings loads of challenges. "I remember how often we went into every competition thinking this was the time to win the trophy. To have another opportunity to be there rekindles that desire.

"It is as new as the first edition and in South Africa, my focus remains helping the team in every form, hoping we have a good tournament and praying luck smiles at us every step along the way because in reality, we need an element of luck in football to deliver." The gifted midfielder was part of the team that exited at the group stage in the last competition in Equatorial Guinea and says the team's poor display is one that must fuel them to take this tourney by storm.

"It was a very painful experience for us all and it can be very useful to our campaign in South Africa. The pain we felt, the manner in which we let down Ghanaians and our fans must fuel us to fight for glory this time round."

Bayor missed out when the Queens beat BV~Coppenburg, a liga two side 2~0 in their first test game on Thursday in Hanover but will be available for selection when they play another liga two side, FFC, Gutersloft on Tuesday, October 26 to round off their training tour of Germany. 22 Oct. 10