The Black Queen Management Committee chairperson has described as “untrue” news making rounds from interview excerpts that she disrespected the female national team, Black Queens.
Dr Gifty Oware-Mensah in a statement said her submission has been ”misconstrued to suggest a diminishing view of the Black Queens."
The statement said “I want to clarify that I hold the utmost respect for the Black Queens and recognise their invaluable contributions to Ghanaian football. The intention was not to undermine the achievements of the Black Queens but to emphasise the distinct nature of each team.”
Read below the full statement
My attention has been drawn to certain statements I made during an interview with Joy Sports which have been taken out of context, particularly concerning the comparison between the Black Queens and the Black Stars.
In the interview, the interviewer quizzed me on my thoughts about Black Queens. This was the exact question “Alright erm I will also take you because erm back to our recent poor performance, I mean to the Black Stars, their poor performance in Ivory Coast, raised questions about the motivation for the Black Queens because it’s almost as if we’ve given too much care to the men’s side and the women’s side have been neglected at some point, I mean not completely neglected but then, yesterday we heard from you at the Press Conference making a case for them, I mean what do they stand to gain because I know they’ve played them qualifies, they’ve qualified for their WAFCON, what was at stake for them, what were they promised, and then when are they getting it?”
In my quest to answer these questions embedded in a statement posed by the gentleman, I sought to explain the concept of the Ghana Football Association, the focus the private entity has had over the years with dominant examples across the world, how wrong it is to pitch a competition between the historic focus of the FA and the drive the female football in Ghana is getting now. The other points I raised focused on the consensus that supports the idea that, the Queens have indeed shown a sign of patriotism by first accepting to wear the national team jersey and so it will be unfair to make their sacrifices and patriotism monetary.
In the interview, I further emphasized the unique qualities and achievements of the Black Stars, highlighting that they are considered the foremost product of Ghana Football.
However, it appears that this statement has been misconstrued to suggest a diminishing view of the Black Queens.
I want to clarify that I hold the utmost respect for the Black Queens and recognise their invaluable contributions to Ghanaian football. The intention was not to undermine the achievements of the Black Queens but to emphasise the distinct nature of each team.
I urge Ghanaians to watch the complete video of the interview, as it provides a comprehensive context to the statements I made.
I believe that a thorough review of the interview will reveal a more accurate understanding of my perspectives on both the Black Queens and the Black Stars.
I hope that this clarification fosters a more accurate portrayal of sentiments and reaffirms the unwavering support the Black Queens Management has for the team.
Thank you for your attention to this matter. Sincerely,
Gifty Oware-Mensah
Black Queens Management Committee Chairperson
