I think some of us would have to revise our opinion about women’s football. I had always held the view that women are that tender that’s why we refer to them as the weaker sex; and that such a combative game  played with tough rubber boots with hard studs would be a no go area for them. But the just ended women’s Under 20 World Cup has proved wrong all of us who think so.

Germany and Nigeria sold a thrilling final to an appreciative crowd who were exceptionally disciplined. There was so much difference between the vuvuzela crowd in South Africa and those in Germany.

Indeed, the German crowd was akin to the tennis crowd we see at Wimbledon. I can’t vouch that their comportment has anything to do with the nature of the women’s game. What I am sure of is that all those countries that excelled in Germany have serious programmes for women’s football. It is not by chance that they are doing so well at all age levels in tournaments.

Ghana may be late starters in women’s football but the fact that the nation qualified for both the Under 17 and Under 20 World Cup shows that talents abound in the country and with a little push we can make it great in the not too distant future.

Under the present economic climate, it may not be possible to organize a national women’s league. We could try a pilot programme where a few selected premier clubs could be assisted by the Football Association to form women’s clubs. It could form part of proposals to increase the number of premier division clubs from 16 to 20.

And by the way, whose idea is it to increase the number to 20. Most people believe that the league has seen enough changes since its inception 52 years ago and the 16 should be the ideal number. From the initial number of eight clubs, it once shot up to 20 then dramatically whittled down to 12 during the military regime in the 70s. Since then various reasons have been found to make variations but the past decade has stuck to 16 clubs.

The argument from certain quarters is that the number should be increased to cover the entire country. I beg to differ. This is a competitive national sports programme and not a district nor national assembly elections where every constituency must be represented.

It is unfortunate if certain regions are left out. It once happened to the Brong Ahafo Region which has produced legends like the Agyeman Gyaus, Kwasi Owusus and Dan Owusus.But they fought back gamely and now they proudly have four teams in the premiership. They are champion club Aduana Stars, Bechem Chelsea, Berekum Arsenal and BA Stars.

I wish to suggest seriously that political consideration should be avoided when planning a national league so that the best of talents could be found no matter where they are hidden.  This will help Ghana maintain its status as an emerging football country in the world.

At this juncture, may I send belated congratulations to the youthful German ladies for their wonderful performance. I loved the way they celebrated when they scored a goal. It appears to be a variation of the famous kangaroo dance by the Black Stars of Ghana which they have strangely stopped presumably for political reasons.

Congratulations too to our Nigerian neighbours for their fighting spirit that took them to the final. They fought a good fight but the Germans were simply impregnable.

It would have been a nice script if Nigeria had won. That would have given the ECOWAS something to boast about for achieving the double in this age group tournament. Don’t forget that Ghana is currently the men’s Under 20 champions. Come on, have you forgotten so soon that with ten men, Ghana beat the almighty Brazil at that nail biting penalty shoot-out in Egypt. That is football for you.

Cheers everybody and keep loving sports.