Gambia'05: Pay back time for Ivorians - Duncan

(William Ezah, Banjul, Gambia, GNA, courtesy Slok Air Intl)

Banjul, Gambian, May 18, GNA - "It was a pay back time for the Ivorians, who thought we were cheap and decided to play a sloppy game against South Africa in order to meet us".

"They should be cursing their stars by now, because they made a wrong choice".

"The next time they wanted to be this arrogant, I think they should rather look for another side but not Ghana, because their attitude rather gingered us".

These were the words of coach David Duncan in a post match interview after he had led the Black Starlets of Ghana to make another entry into the World Under-17 Championship, as well as qualify for the finals of the Africa Under-17 Tournament currently underway in The Gambia.

The Starlets won the game 2-0, after a scoreless 90 minutes of action. Coach Duncan prior to the match had suspected that the Ivorians played lackadaisical game against South Africa, in order to avoid host nation The Gambia and to meet Ghana.

He said the Ivorians thought the Ghanaians were a weak side and decided to meet them instead of the Gambians, adding that, Ghana rather turned out to the wrong choice for them.

The tough speaking Ghanaian, who also has the taste for total discipline from his players, said the attitude of the Ivorians spurred him on to work harder to secure the victory.

The coach said, after watching the first game, he vowed to plot their down fall and psyched up his boys for that purpose, hence the results.

Coach Duncan declared that, they were ready to face any side in the finals of the competition, adding that, each game will be taken according to the strength of their opponents.

"I believe we are at the verge of annexing the cup and awaiting for Sunday to put it into reality".

The coach summed up the press conference with his usual religious dedications, saying, "Jesus Christ made the victory possible for me". Ghana will meet host nation The Gambia in the finals of the competition on Sunday, May 22.

Gambia on the other hand, came back from a goal deficit to beat South Africa 2-1 to make a historic entry into the finals. The battle will be the second time both sides will be meeting in the competition, after Ghana defeated the host by a lone goal to secure a semi final berth from the group stages.