Black Princesses Assistant Coach DSI Anita Wiredu-Minta is excited about making it to another FIFA World Cup after missing the chance to play at the senior level.
The former Ghana player missed out on the 2007 FIFA Women’s World Cup due to a knee injury but had the chance to serve as the Welfare Officer of the Black Princesses in 2018.
Anita Wiredu-Mintah will go into this year’s FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup as an assistant coach having played a key role in Ghana’s qualification to yet another U-20 Women’s world Cup in Columbia. She has been sharing her perspective with ghanafa.org on expectations, being a role model for the younger generation, working as an assistant coach of the Princesses and going to another FIFA World Cup tournament as a coach.
Read on for the full transcript:
On missing out on the 2007 FIFA World Cup as a player
I was part of the Black Queens team that qualified to the World Cup in 2007 but unfortunately I couldn’t make it due to a knee surgery. But I had the chance to go to the U-20 Women’s World Cup in 2018 as the welfare officer of team. It was an exciting moment because I always wanted to go to World Cup but didn’t get the chance. When the U-20 girls qualified to the World Cup, I felt this was my moment.
On qualifying the Black Princess to the World Cup as an assistant coach
The Black Princesses have qualified to the U-20 World Cup in Colombia and this time I will be there as an assistant coach. It is more exciting this time around because the first time in France 2018, I was the welfare officer and not really involved in the technical aspect of the game but as an assistant coach, you’re practically involved on the field by giving tactical advice so I feel very much involved. The players will play your mind and whatever you’ve impacted in them so in a way, they are playing your thoughts on the field so I feel like I’m on the pitch through the players.
On how it feels to coach the Black Princesses at the World Cup
This is going to be big for me and I’m a bit nervous but I expect a lot from the players and I know we will make it past the group stage this time around. Being the only female coach on the technical team it is an honour and a privilege but I also see it as a challenge to put in my best and to be the torch bearer for the female coaches in Ghana and Africa to know that we can also do it. I am going to put in my best as I’ve always done and make sure that I’m a good role model for the younger female coaches and the players as well.
Message to Ghanaians
My message to my female players is that, it’s never over when you stop playing football. There are more opportunities in the game and not just coaching but if they want to be coaches, they have to be tough and very focused because we are in a man’s world. They need to widen their knowledge space, learn and acquire more understanding about the game and I feel they can overcome any challenge that comes their way. You don’t need to feel you are competing with the men but rather learn from them because they started the game before us. Keep your confidence high and be alert and you can reach any height you set your eyes on.
The FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup will kick off in Colombia from Saturday, August 31 to Sunday, September 22, 2024. Ghana will play Japan, New Zealand and Austria in Group E.
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