Hasaacas must be rewarded for their blond effort

● Hasaacas players celebrating a goal during last year’s Women CAF Champions League
tournament

For two reasons, Ghana’s most accomplished women club side, Hasaacas Ladies, must have punched their hands in the air in celebration when they dazzled all to reach the final stage of the maiden Women’s CAF Champions League last year.

Firstly, they were thrilled for being one of the two clubs on the continent to steer their path to the competition’s finale, and secondly, the transport of joy may have been triggered by an expectation of good cash to come with the momentous feat.

It is sad to say that almost a year (November 19, 2021) after playing in the grand finale and losing to Mamelodi Sundowns 2-0, nothing had come in reward for the Ghanaians – who continued to hang on hope.

That hope got burnt out last week when the former Ghanaian champions were told in plain language that their efforts would not be complemented with cash rewards for their 2021 Women’s Champions League feat, having won the WAFU Zone B edition in Cote d’Ivoire earlier.

“On prize money, CAF spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on the first edition. There was no prize money announced. When the discussion came after the tournament, the President said it wasn’t fair to announce prize money after the competition. This was the correct approach, of course,” a piece of the CAF statement, read.

It is just unfortunate. This is highly unfair. How do you expect a team to play at this level without any monetary returns? We hear Hasaacas were even told not to showcase any product on their jerseys. What does that mean? This is simply atrocious! How do you organise a continental competition at this level without any budget for it? Playing for free in this age and time? This is simply crazy!

The players, technical team and management have worked very hard to walk away with something. It seems as if CAF may have capitalised on the naivety of Haasacas. The Ghanaian club may have decided to pull out if they were told there was not going to be anything for them.

This weird decision by CAF has the propensity of having a calamitous effect on women football if clubs are treated in this manner by the same institution that wants the local FAs to fight for the female game.

CAF President Dr Patrice Motsepe says women are playing a pivotal role in shaping the future of African football and the socio-economic development and growth of the African Continent. This was part of his remarks to mark the International Women’s Day on Tuesday, March 8.  Can he be serious, really?

Chief Executive of Hasaacas Ladies, Evelyn Nsiah, is not convinced.

“We as a club are very disappointed in CAF because they requested our bank details after the tournament, which was provided. So if they didn’t have a budget, what did they need our bank details for? Can this happen in men’s football?

“We are disappointed and sad. In fact, they have to come again. We haven’t accepted it; we believe they will have a change of mind,” she told JoySports recently.

Is the CAF President aware Hasaacas Ladies are yet to get a farthing after participating in the tournament? If yes, then his so-called commitment to women football development is questionable – very problematic.

On this note, it is high time the Ghana Football Association (GFA) led by Kurt Okraku got stirred to fight the just cause of the Ghanaians ladies. The GFA President himself has said several times that women football is on top his agenda; and this is the time now for him to accentuate that assertion more than ever.

For now, CAF cannot be serious with its loyalty to the women’s game and they must sit up before it is too late.

PlainTalk with John Vigah