Leticia Zikpi
General Captain of the senior national female football team, the Black Queens, Leticia Zikpi says the target of the team is to win the Africa Women Cup of Nations to be staged in Ghana and qualify to the World Cup.
“Our aim and dream now is to stage a successful AWCON and emerge the champions. That will guarantee us a place at the next FIFA Women’s World Cup.”
Zikpi who spoke to a section of media personnel at the Sunyani training base said this was a difficult task the entire team members have set for themselves and admits it’s a Herculean task.
The team is embarking on a nationwide tour to raise awareness on the competition and in the process engage in a number of friendly encounters with some of the premier women division league.
According to the experienced defender who works for the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) every member of the team is discussing the ‘host and win’ agenda which a lot of people may not believe.
She said the women’s game has developed so well and in the process, increased competition among countries and teams.
As a result, she said, club teams and countries have become stronger and currently make it difficult for countries that were previously described as ‘super powers’.
“It is a stern test that we are hoping to pass and pass well. We know it would not be easy winning the trophy in the sight of our perennial rivals Nigeria and the emerging force of the Bayana Bayana from South Africa. However, we need to trust in our abilities as a team. We also have the girls who can make a lot of difference.
Leticia expressed optimism that with the hard work and commitment displayed in the preparation, it will come as a little surprise to her should the Black Queens mount the podium to collect the gold medals.
“As the General Captain, I have been talking to my colleagues to understand what we are about. I have just been trying to motivate them that we can make a name for ourselves and the country.”
“I have told them that it was okay for people to write us off. We may not be able to stand the pressure that comes with being labeled as favourites. As underdogs, the pressure will not be on us so we need to take that advantage and win our biggest laurel for mother Ghana, Zikpi said.
The team, currently under the tutelage of Bashir Hayford headed to the Central region yesterday after holding some trial games with teams in the Ashanti and Central regions.
BY TIMES SPORTS REPORTS
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