The Africa challenge at the 7th Female Junior Hockey World Cup crushed last Thursday after quarter-finalists, South Africa, stumbled before mighty Holland, who beat them 9-1 and are set to lift the trophy back to back today at the Warsteiner Hockey Stadium in Monchengladbach.
Some 10,000 fans are expected to throng the stadium as favourites, The Netherlands, who are the top-ranked team, lift the trophy.
South Africa remained Africa’s main hope after qualifying for the quarter-final after Ghana missed out and consigned themselves to the second tier of the competition—placement and ranking.
But the Ghanaians, despite making a false start, improved match after match and even scored their first-ever World Cup goal.
Gloria Darko fetched a goal for Ghana despite the team losing 1-3, but it was enough to send the Ghanaian team into a frenzy mood at their Holiday Inn Hotel.
Officials commended the players against the backdrop of not having any international friendly before the World Cup and travelling without any money.
The team has been staying at the hotel and eating on credit and officials are still racking their brains as to where they could get money to pay their debt, as well pay per diems of the players.
It is unclear whether the players would honour their last match today against a yet to be named opponent after playing from July 7, without cash.
The government has reneged on its promise to sponsor the team to its maiden World Cup appearance and has failed to guarantee for a loan for the team as it did for the Black Satellites.
By Daniel Kenu, Germany
The Mirror/graphic.com.gh/Ghana
