Freelance sports journalist, Akosua Addai Amoo, recaps the story of Week 7 of the National Women’s League with a special focus on Sea Lions’ loss to Immigration Ladies, Supreme Ladies’ rather underwhelming performances and how Prison Ladies have barred their goals from opponents.
Southern Zone
“At long last, the battle has ended! And thus, Ghana, your beloved country is free forever!”
As the nation gears up for its 63rd Independence celebration, the famous words of Dr Kwame Nkrumah re-echoes and there is one team in the South that had an ‘at long last’ moment.
Finally, after six failed attempts, Immigration picked up their first win of the season in a battle against Sea Lions in Elmina. Gifty Appiah announced her return to the league in style, after an injury lay off with the solitary goal that tamed the lions.
Hasaacas continued their winning ways after they went past Halifax Ladies in a 2-1 win at Tema but for the first time since match day 2, the team conceded a goal. The absence of the two stalwarts at the back, Linda Eshun and Janet Egyir – who were on national duty for Black Queens, was quite evident. The ‘Doo’ Ladies wrapped up the first round on top of the Southern Zone table.
In Ajumako, Soccer Intellectuals beat Ladystrikers 2-0 to end the first round in second place. Soccer Intellectuals defender, Linda Amoako, won the Woman of the Match award for a second consecutive time.
The game between Samaria Ladies and Police had to be rescheduled as a result of the security team having 6 players on national duty.
Northern Zone
The unpredictability of results from the North continued in Week 7. The biggest shock of Matchday 7 had to be Pearl Pia’s loss to struggling Ashtown Ladies by a lone goal at home. The win drew a sigh of relief for one of the oldest clubs in the history of the Women’s league as they try to avoid the drop.
Encounters between Ampem Darkoa and Kumasi Sports Academy have always been cagey and this installment match lived up to its billing. The two teams had to share the spoils. Ampem Darkoa were without the services of lethal forward, Ophelia Amponsah. More importantly, for the first time since season four, Ampem Darkoa failed to top the Northern Zone table in the first round.
Visiting Fabulous Ladies deepened the wounds of Supreme Ladies by clinching a lone goal victory on the road. For the home side, their performance has been anything but Supreme on the pitch. It was a third consecutive defeat for Supreme and the team has picked just a point in seven games.
Assistant coach of Supreme Ladies, Peter Boakye said after the match:
“The team played very well against Fabulous. We have a very youthful team with some in school. Hence, the challenge in fusing the team. In the second round, we will introduce some experienced players and everyone will see the fortunes of Supreme Ladies turn around.”
In another match in the zone, Prison Ladies drew blank with Northern Ladies in a very tough game. Although they dropped points, Prison Ladies are five points clear of 2nd placed team, Ampem Darkoa and remain the only undefeated team in the North.
The writer can be reached on Twitter on @akosuaamoo.
FORMAT
There are 16 teams in the National Women’s league. The teams are divided into two zones: the Southern Zone and the Northern Zone. There will be 14 rounds of matches played in the respective zones. There will be a play-off between the champions of the two zones to determine the winner of the league.
GHANA WOMEN’S PREMIER LEAGUE MATCH WEEK SEVEN – FULL RESULTS
Northern Zone
Prisons Ladies 0- 0 Northern Ladies
Supreme Ladies 0-1 Fabulous
Kumasi Sports Academy 1-1 Ampem Darkoa Ladies
Pearl Pia Ladies 0-1 Ashtown Ladies
Southern Zone
Samaria Ladies -Police Ladies (postponed)
Soccer Intellectual 2-0 Ladystrikers
Halifax Ladies 1-2 Hasaacas Ladies
Sea Lions Ladies 0-1 Immigrations Ladies