We have no option than to win - Duncan

(From Caesar Abagali, GNA Special Correspondent, Trujillo, Peru) Courtesy: PureJoy Fruit Juice

Trujillo, September 21, GNA - Mr David Duncan, head coach of Ghana's U-17 national team, the Black Starlets on Wednesday said the team had no other option than to win their final group match against China on Thursday.

He said the players were going to meet the Chinese with all seriousness and extra energy and that extra effort would be put in to ensure a win to qualify them for the next stage of the competition. Mr Duncan told the GNA Sports before the team's training in Trujillo towards the crucial encounter on Thursday that Mubarak Wakaso who had a red card during the opening match with Peru and Sadat Bukari who did not feature in the match against Costa Rica due to injury would participate in the Thursday game.

"We played very well against Costa Rica but luck was just not on our side", he said, adding 'that this time round, the boys would go all out for the three points and hope that nothing could stop us". Dr Andrews Ayim, Starlets team doctor said Sadat who sustained injury during their last training towards Costa Rica had recovered and would be fit to play on Thursday.

There was determination in the faces of the players during their training session on Tuesday evening in Trujillo, an indication that there was going to be trouble for the Chinese on Thursday. In an interview with some of the players, they expressed optimism about their chances of winning the match and asked Ghanaians to pray for them to succeed on Thursday.

"Victory is for all of us and we want Ghanaians to know that we are flying Ghana's flag on a different continent and we would not intentionally allow the name of the country to fall", they said. Nana Bonsu, the number on goalkeeper of the team said he was still worried about the goal scored against him in their match against the Costa Ricans and said he would be extra careful to ensure that such goals do not beat him again.

Samad Oppong said that, "If it would require us to use our necks to score the against the Chinese, we would do just that" and assured Ghanaians of not just winning that match but hoping to lift the ultimate trophy.

The team would leave Trujillo on Wednesday for Piura, north of Peru to play their last group match against China on Thursday.