The U.S. Embassy in Ghana is seeking to strengthen the development of girls in football by equipping coaches with the skills to nurture not only their sporting abilities but also t
The report indicates that the U.S. Embassy in Ghana is seeking to strengthen the development of girls in football by equipping coaches with the skills to nurture not only their sporting abilities but also their leadership and teamwork.
It further notes that the initiative forms part of a sports diplomacy program being implemented in Tamale, Kumasi and Accra, with Tamale serving as the first stop.
Sixteen coaches have been trained in Tamale under a train-the-trainer model, with emphasis on building the character, confidence and leadership capacity of young female footballers.
Speaking on the sidelines of the training, U.S. Embassy Education and Cultural Attaché Donye Eldridge stated the program is designed to close a persistent gap in youth sports development.
“We want to make sure we keep that same energy, and we have similar pipelines when it comes to developing the leadership in girls as we do with boys,” she said.
The program featured Amy Griffin, a former United States women’s national team player and member of the 1991 FIFA Women’s World Cup-winning squad.
Griffin, who is now Executive Director of the Seattle Reign Academy, an all-girls football club, says providing opportunities for girls to play and develop is critical to unlocking their potential.
She stated her own journey to becoming a World Cup winner began with having a place to play, despite there being no U.S. women’s national team at the time.
“The first thing is just opportunity. It’s not a big ask to make sure that there’s a place for girls to play,” she said.
Griffin was impressed by the talent and enthusiasm displayed by the young footballers during the training session in Tamale.
She stated the girls demonstrated a combination of talent, passion and determination, while praising the coaches for creating an environment in which the players could learn and enjoy themselves.
“They were sweating, but they were smiling,” she added.
According to Griffin, football should not only be viewed as a pathway to sporting success but also as a tool for developing confidence and leadership among young women.
“Sports is what fosters confidence. Sports is what foster leadership,” she added
