Play for the pride not money - Essikadu Omanhene to Queens

Omanhene of the Essikadu Traditional Council, Nana Kobina Nketsiah V has advised the Black Queens players to play for the pride not for money in their upcoming 2018 African Women’s Cup of Nations.

Ghana will be hosting the eleventh edition of the AWCON with 7 more nations: Nigeria, Cameroon, South Africa, Equatorial Guinea, Zambia, Algeria and Mali all set to appear in the country from November 17 to December 1.

As part of preparations ahead of the biennial tournament, the Black Queens led by Coach Bashiru Hayford embarked on a nationwide tour which ended on Wednesday, September 26 at Sekondi.

On their visit to Sekondi, Nana Kobina Nketsiah V cited that what happened in the Brazil 2014 World Cup which saw players fighting over winning bonuses was awful and hopes the Black Queens will prove different in their upcoming AFCON tournament.

“What happened to us in Brazil 2014 was disgusting, but you ladies should prove that you are different from them, everything in this country has turned into money, money is important and this country is a money country, but your love is more important than the money, money can’t buy the pride you will get from this, get the pride to make Ghana proud.

“Those days, football wasn’t about money, you will receive chicken when you get invitation to the national, it always delightful when someone from my house get a national team call up and receives chicken.

“The world is changing but there are players that we won’t forget; Dogo Moro, Salisu, Baba Yara, Edward Acquah, Kofi Pare, Osei Kofi and host of others and we don’t mention their name because of the money they received but the pride and love they played for.

“We recently played against Kenya and lost and I was surprised because we would have thrashed them if it was years back” Nana Kobina Nketsiah told the press.