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Mrs Espada spends 80m cedis to promote women soccer

Sun, 9 Nov 2003 Source: GNA

Obuasi, Nov. 9, GNA - Mrs Comfort Espada, a businesswoman has so far spent more than 80 million cedis to promote women soccer in Obuasi. The money was used to manage Ashanti Goldfields Ladies Football Club, which was formed by her in June 2001 with encouragement and support by Mr Gus Kessie, a Director of Obuasi Goldfields Sporting Club. Mrs Espada announced these at the formal inauguration of the club at the Ashanti Goldfields Company (AGC) Club House at Wawase - Obuasi on Saturday.

She said she has bought seven players at the total cost of 16.5 million cedis while four million cedis was spent monthly on the medical bills of the players.

Commending Obuasi Goldfields Sporting Club for their support, Mrs Espada appealed to the management of AGC to adopt the ladies club to help sustain women soccer in Obuasi.

Mr Daniel Owiredu, the Managing Director of AGC-Obuasi observed that women soccer has come to stay and that it is the responsibility of all to assist in sustaining Goldfields Ladies Football Club.

"The ladies football club is representing the Adansi State and that it is our responsibility to make it grow and sustained."

Mr Owiredu who donated 10 million cedis on behalf of the Company and his personal one million cedis stressed on discipline and charged the ladies to abide by the rule and regulations governing football. The Ashanti Regional Women Soccer Chairman, Madam Cecilia Anane dismissed as erroneous the notion that women footballers cannot give birth, and appealed to parents to encourage their girls to take to sports.

She announced that the region had formed women's teams and appealed to AGC to support them so that the region could contribute players to the national team, the Black Queens.

Nana Okotwareasuo Owusu Nkwantabisa, Odumasihene who represented the Adansihene donated 500,000 cedis on behalf of the Adansi Traditional Council.

Captain Andy Sam, Chief Executive of Obuasi Goldfields advised the players not to be complacent since in football "it is the results that count."

He assured the club of balls, boots, jerseys and other kits to encourage the players to give off their best.

Mr Gus Kessie, the father of the club who chaired the function reiterated the need for the players to be disciplined on the field by respecting referees and obeying the rules governing the game. Mr Kessie who donated two million cedis to the club told the players, "we are relying on you for Goldfields' impact on women soccer in the country.

Representatives of most women soccer clubs in the country participated in the inauguration.

Source: GNA