Women supporters gear up for Ghana 2008

By Rebecca Kwei
The football bug has infected almost every Ghanaian — thanks to CAN 2008 which Ghana is hosting. Women have not been left out of the euphoria.
As the football tournament approaches, many women can be spotted either wearing clothes in the national colours or selling things such as flags, souvenirs, scarfs, bangles and whistles on the streets.
Aside these, there are some women’s groups whose activities centre around cheering the national teams to victory.
One of such groups is the Women Supporters Union of Ghana (WOSUGHA).
With more than 6,000 members nationwide, the union says it is ‘fully armed’ to cheer the Black Stars to victory during the tournament.
“Clad in our national colours of red, gold and green, accompanied by brass band music, we are going to support the Black Stars with our cheer songs to the best of our ability as they play their matches during the Ghana 2008. In fact we would be on our feet cheering till the end of each game,” said Ms Freda Prempeh, President and Founder of the union, in an interview in Accra with The Mirror.
The Black Stars will play Sylli Nationale of Guinea in the opening match of Ghana 2008, tomorrow, January 20.
She said although the union had not been fortunate with sponsorship and was sponsoring itself, everything was almost set for them to throng the stadium and support the Black Stars massively.
“Our only problem was the purchase of tickets. We have put in our request but are yet to get the tickets. Hopefully, we will get them before the Sunday,” she added.
The union comprises people from all walks of life with females dominating.
According to Ms Prempeh, the union was formed in 2005 and commenced business fully in January 2007 with the aim of supporting the Ghanaian national teams, especially the female national football team, the Black Queens.
Ms Prempeh who has a passion for football and women’s issues said the union was to create and sustain women’s interest and support for sports adding that “gone were the days when football was considered ‘men’s affair’. Now, women are taking active part in football.”
Aside cheering the national teams, the union also seeks to build the capacity of its members and has thus organised a career counselling and stress relief workshop for its members.
Ms Prempeh who is also the assembly member for Lakoo Electoral Area, said WOSUGHA had composed and launched a song for the Black Stars and the Black Queens.
The union supported the Black Queens when they played Bayana Bayana in Pretoria, South Africa and also in the just ended FIFA Women’s World Cup in China.
Ms Prempeh appealed to women in all fields of endeavour to throng the stadium to support the Black Stars.
“The tournament is a national issue — not a men’s issue and if women are in the majority, then we should be visible whipping up support for the Black Stars. When the men are going to the stadium, they should not leave their wives behind. I believe the Black Stars will be happy seeing women cheer them to win” she said.
Another group making an impact with cheer songs for national events is Grace Ashy For Ghana Fan Club.
Grace, who is a musician and also a member of Supporters Union of Ghana, said the club was basically a cheering group for national events.
“Any activity that has a national appeal certainly has the support of the club,” she said in an interview with The Mirror.
She explained that although she had not been given any official role to play during the Ghana 2008, she would not sit idle but would do whatever she could to support the nation.
Consequently, she has composed a song titled “Black Stars Emir no nie”, literally translated “Black Stars, This is the Time” and a welcome song, “Africa we are blessed”, for the competing teams.
It will be recalled that Grace Ashy showed a lot of commitment in mobilsing national support for the senior national team, the Black Stars, during the team’s campaign in the 2006 World Cup in Germany.
The club is ready to give the same support to the Black Stars this time too.
Grace said it was important for people not to use discouraging words for the Black Stars.
“Good words, encouragement — these are what the Black Stars need to boost their morale,” she said.
She noted that the supporters group served as a platform for bringing people together, no matter their status, religion or political affiliations.
She encouraged all women to come out in their numbers to support the Black Stars because when “ladies support the Black Stars, it encourages them to perform better.”