Necessity, they say is the mother of invention and a nation which does not respect its heroes is not worth fighting for. If these sayings are true, then the nation is doing itself more harm than good so far as the senior female national team, the Black Queens are concerned.

A cursory look at the team's performance shows that, it is made up of talented players who just need a little push forward to transform them into international stars.

It is rather unfortunate that, a team that has made it to the World Cup should be made to suffer in such an un-likable manner.

Black Queens is on the verge of collapse as most of these skilful players are not only showing signs of rustiness but age is also catching fast on most of them.

One wonders why the Ghana Football Association, (GFA) has no standing plan for them like their Nigerian counterparts, which operate under a complete structure for women.

Not only do the Black Queens lack this privilege but they also seem not to be in the good books of their mother association, which has relegated the team to the background and only assembles them for international assignments and are soon forgotten after such tournaments until the need arises again.

These unfair treatments have demoralised most of the players who have resorted to travelling out of the country and engaging in other ventures.

Presently the GNA Sports has gathered that four of these players are already out of the country to seek greener pastures.

Enumerating some of their problems, veteran Alberta Sackey, the skipper of the team and a player with Ghatel Ladies Accra, recounted how only one set of jersey was used throughout their African Women's nations tournament held in South Africa last year and even the jersey had to be collected from soon after the competition was over.

She regretted the FA's inability to organise any international friendly matches for them, thereby forcing them to play in the rural areas with boys and yet they were expected to excel. Alberta said their allowances were always in arrears while they were expected to defeat all opposition before them.

She called for the restructuring of the entire women soccer committee under the GFA and suggested that, there should be a standing programme for the Queens to stop the team from total collapse.

" I think the present committee should be dissolved to pave way for people who have women's football at heart. Many things are done for the men who are yet to go to the world cup but we are sidelined, its totally unfair''.

She called for more international friendlies for the team, just as they have been doing for the other national teams.

It is worthy to note that, "the hen that lays the golden egg cannot be killed, so it is time the GFA stood up to its responsibilities and brought the team to its befitting position.

"The GAWSOC Gala competition played recently did not deserve the paltry some of 100 thousand cedis and two balls for the winner," she said, adding that the balls were yet to be delivered to the winners