Maidens set pace

The Black Maidens, the national U-17 women’s team, must have put the world on edge following their unique run at the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Costa Rica.

Many must have not taken notice initially that they could be world beaters, but their consecutive victories in a group believed to be the ‘group of death’ at the ongoing Costa Rica tournament have, doubtless, put them in the spotlight.

It must be no mean achievement by the Maidens to have been the first team to reach the quarter-finals after decisive wins over North Korea (2-0) and Germany (1-0).

We are delighted at their masterful displays so far in the hope that they would go far in the tournament and lift the championship.

Against the din of the Black Stars budget for the 2014 Brazil World Cup, the Maidens appear to have been orphaned with hardly any one raising issues about the financial commitments to them by the nation prior to their trip.

What allowances, winning or qualification bonuses and per diems due them were matters that had been muted with nobody wanting to know.

Rather, the Maidens had to undergo difficulties even with their travel plans, having to miss the plane twice in Accra because of visa delays and other such clearances.

If we had taken the girls for granted they must have proved beyond doubt now that they deserved better treatment or support from Ghanaians.

Perhaps, the Black Stars must be first to acknowledge the Maidens for demystifying the apparent awesome aura surrounding German teams.

For, it will not be long when the Stars will collide with the ‘German Machines’ in a Group G match at the Brazil World Cup.

The fears are that the Germans, along with Portugal and the USA, will prove a handful for the Stars during the group games and, subsequently, block Ghana’s advance to the next stage of the tournament.

We believe the pace set by the Maidens at the Costa Rica tournament will influence their senior male counterparts vicariously at the Brazil tournament in June.