Accra, Dec 23, GNA - The Ghana Women Soccer League Clubs Association (GHAWSOLCA) has asked the Ghana Football Association (GFA) to give more recognition to stakeholders at the grassroots of women soccer to ensure a concerted growth to the women's game.

Addressing a press conference in Accra on Tuesday, Mr Ebenezer Tetteh Addo, Chairman of the Association, regretted that there has never been any clear policy on the development of women soccer and its promotion and this has led to the present poor financial state of the women's game.

He said GHAWSOLCA is not satisfied with the way women's soccer is being run without any regard to the expertise and involvement of the club owners as it pertains to the men's game.

Mr Addo said presently there are two league competitions being run in the country but none has had any financial assistance or seen any form of development for the past 12 years whilst those organised in the other regions are totally neglected.

"It is clear that based on the above mentioned facts, women soccer has not been developed despite the formation and shadowy existence of a National Women Football Committee".

He said after the maiden appearance of the Black Queens in the qualification stage of the Women World Cup in 1991, there has not been any significant development of the game either in the form of financial assistance, logistics supply or infrastructural development.

Mr Addo said female clubs have been denied usage of national and regional stadiums and persistent pleas to allow the use of these facilities have been denied with the excuse that they are occupied. He said the situation where soccer administrators relax at their various offices and expect the club owners to single handily see to the development of football at the grassroots level without making any inputs can no longer be tolerated or allowed to continue.

Mr Addo said it is because of the club chairmen's desire to seek the welfare and address some of the concerns facing women soccer in the country that they decided to come together to forge a common front to foster a friendly relationship among officials and players of member-clubs at all times.

He said they are also prepared to work hand in hand and co-operate with the GFA in its effort to develop and sustain women football in the country.

"We also intend to seek for the provision of a new arrangement that will, beside harnessing and harmonising available resources, reverse the negative values and concepts that have given rise to the negligence and deprivation of the game".

He said it is not the desire of the association to be confrontational but it rather wants to build bridges to complement genuine efforts and ideas aimed at sustaining, developing and promoting women soccer in the country. 23, Dec 03