Queens ready to subdue Falcons

Ibadan, Nigeria, Jan 29, GNA - The Black Queens arrived in the Western Nigerian city of Ibadan, beaming with enthusiasm and confidence to triumph over their Nigerian opponents, the Super Falcons in the first leg, semi final eliminator of the Athens Olympics billed for the Liberty Stadium, Ibadan on Saturday.

The team, which touched down at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport in Lagos at about 9 a.m. GMT was met on arrival by officials from the Ghana High Commission led by Mr Lawrence Tamakloe and driven to Ibadan in a convoy of vehicles of the diplomatic mission. Coach Oko Aryee and his assistant, Mumuni Gamel later drilled the girls at a training session at the Liberty Stadium for about 90 minutes in readiness for the "Battle of Ibadan", scheduled for 3:00 GMT on Saturday.

On the touchline to watch the training session were Mr Joe Aggrey, Deputy Minister of Youth, Education and Sports who is leader of delegation , Mr Sylvester Mensah, chairman of the Black Queens management committee and Dr Carol Collison, team doctor.

The training consisted of dribbling runs with the ball, which the head coach explained was to make the girls familiar with the 'behaviour' of the turf. They also did some speed training, which was followed by flexibility exercises and target training.

The coach said in an interview after the training session that he was confident the girls would clip the wings of the Falcons in their own backyard.

He said he has programmed his training regime to enable the girls to peak up on Saturday and assured Ghanaians that "the girls are in excellent shape and ready to do battle."

Coach Aryee said new players such as Gloria Aikins, Tahiru Ramanatu and Helena Arthur Mensah have grown in confidence and their inclusion has given the team a new zeal and youthful exuberance that will complement the experience of the older generation to produce the needed result.

Genevieve Clottey, captain of the team said "time was when the Super Falcons had the edge over the Queens, but the time has come for the Nigerians to play second fiddle to the Queens".

She said the team was determined to snatch the lone spot for Africa at the Olympic Games and nothing would stop them from achieving their goal.
The skipper praised the technical team and Mrs Cecelia Laast, the physiotherapist of the team for their commitment and affection for the players, adding that the love and concern shown by the coaches and officials compel them to perform above themselves to reward them with success.

She assured Ghanaians of the collective resolve of the team to win on Saturday to face the winner of the other semi final match between Angola and South Africa.

And as the Ghana - Nigeria soccer rivalry is revived with this important feature, the Ghanaian ace will certainly be Memunatu Suleymana, goalkeeper of the Queens who once again showed spectacular form at training. The agile goal tender dived, sprang and sprawled relentlessly to save shots from coach Aryee and later from members of the team with distinction. And as usual, Genevieve Clottey is expected to provide the inspirational leadership that has transformed the team from a goal shy lady-like playing pattern into a sturdy tomboy fashion that would certainly be a handful for the Nigerians whose advantage used to be their physical toughness. With Adjoa Bayor, Mavis Danso and Yaa Avoe oiling the attack of the Queens and veteran Elizabeth Baidoo providing cover at the back, the Queens only need some luck to achieve the result that they so badly need.
In this regard, they are not leaving anything to chance as they constantly pray and sing praises to God to strengthen their will and shower some blessings of luck on them to shine brighter than the Falcons on the match day.
The battle cry that would provide the charge and dope the Queens to victory on Saturday should be "Go, Queens go. Go for goals. Go, die a little for mother Ghana. The whole nation is behind you."
(FROM: Richard Avornyotse, GNA Special Correspondent in Ibadan, Nigeria)