Starlets To Face Gambia

Accra - The present squad of the Black Starlets is steadily and surely showing improvement at training sessions.

Individually the players have acquired essential ball skills but there is much still to be done about combined team play.

Their test match against a Tema side amply demonstrates this. Perhaps, that is why Coach Oti Akenteng has lined up some matches for the squad against southern sector teams.

In a couple of weeks from today, the Black Starlets have been scheduled to engage some teams in the northern sector.

All these matches are being arranged to instill teamwork and tactics in the squad. But Mail Sports has noticed inability of some players to communicate and mix with others. Again some of the players are enthusiastic about representing their country, and officials should be conscious of the need to reduce anxiety by making the players relax and realise that it is important to play freely and display their skills without feeling that it is a matter of life and death to win.

Mail Sports also has noticed that the squad will benefit a lot in matches against foreign teams. Perhaps, that is why the GFA is quietly trying to arrange an international friendly encounter with the Gambian under-17 side.

Year 2001 will soon dawn, and Coach Oti-Akenteng will do well to marry the talents of the individual players, and weld them into a good tactical team.