As the Black Stars struggled to score during a crucial international match in Accra years ago, an aggrieved fan of the men’s national soccer team could no longer contain his anger. “Alberta Sackey …coach bring her on! She is a good player. She would not miss such goal scoring chances. She can do better than these disappointing boys,” he poured out his frustration amid uncontrollable laughter from the stands.
Those were the days when the Black Stars had hit a bad patch. Despite the availability of great talents and resources, qualification for the World Cup was a nightmare. With high expectations from Ghanaians, the Black Stars failed to shine. Amid the despondency, the Black Queens, from nowhere, did the impossible. They set the pace for the big boys to emulate by qualifying for the 1999 edition of the World Cup.
Of course, men’s soccer and women’s soccer are two different ball games. However, when a gifted female displays impeccable skills, tantalizing ball control and infectious scoring skills, a man will cry out, “coach bring her on” to express his disgust about the big boys.
Indeed, when in action, her pace and pedigree are points above her female peers and you may mistake her for a man in action. She has speed, shoots well and scores nice goals.
In Ghana soccer folklore, mention Sackey’s alias Albino and the reaction is, “Oh the lady who plays like a man.” She executes the scissor kick or bicycle kick like a man.
A metaphor for excellence in women’s soccer, Sackey captained the Black Queens to two World Cups in 1999 and 2003. She reached the pinnacle of her glorious career in 2003 when the African Football Confederation crowned her Africa’s Best Female Footballer for her brilliant performance at the African Women’s Championship held in Nigeria that year. Sackey shot her way to stardom with four brilliant goals. She capped a vintage performance with a memorable goal against the hosts, Nigeria. “It was the first time the Black Queens ever beat Nigeria and on their home soil. It was a memorable day,” she recollected.
It is just over ten years ago since Sackey led a Ghanaian soccer team to participate in a senior World Cup for the first time. Another World Cup beckons, the first ever on African soil in South Africa. It provides an opportunity to assess how the girls in red, gold and green outfit inspired the big boys and empowered the girl-child and thus, transformed the destiny of Ghanaian soccer. The significance of the Black Queens feat cannot be lost on soccer connoisseurs, as the men’s game takes centre stage again after the debut in Germany in 2006.
Sackey still has fresh memories of her inspirational leadership that took Ghana to the senior World Cup for the first time in the U.S. in 1999.
“Ghana has a lot of female soccer talents and we were determined to prove this point. I knew we could go places and it was a matter of time for this to materialize,” stated the talented player.
The women’s feat came at a time when tremendous efforts by the men’s team had all ended fruitlessly. The Queens repeated their feat four years later in 2003 which served to only accentuate humiliation of their male counterparts. There were grumblings in Ghanaian soccer circles. As pacesetters, the women had the bragging rights. The talk in town was why the women had participated in two World Cups while the men were still shooting off target.
Significantly, Ghana had capitalized on FIFA’s developmental soccer tournaments for boys, termed FIFA UNDER 17 and FIFA UNDER 20 World Cup, to unearth many talents, who plied their trade in Europe. Even so, the nation could not achieve success at the senior level.
On the other hand, the women’s team qualified for the two World Cups, neither with the benefit of these juvenile structures, nor any foreign-based professional players or coach. However, as a spin-off of the Black Queens’ success, Ghana now boasts of female Under 17 and Under 20 national teams due to the huge interest in female soccer.
Meanwhile, in the male-dominated world of Ghanaian soccer, the teasing, taunts and humiliation emanating from the Queens’ success, galvanized the big boys. If women can inspire men to greater heights, this was one good example, as later events revealed.
Apparently inspired by the women, the Black Stars accepted the challenge and doubled their efforts and it paid off. After their debut in 2006 edition staged in Germany, the Black Stars make a second appearance in South Africa, the first time on African soil, in June to contend for the plume prize of world soccer.
Despite the success, Sackey was modest in reacting to the trailblazing feat.
“We did not go out to prove that we were better than the men. Soccer for men and women are two different worlds. We had limited resources, and we just played for fun and it happened. Of course, we were very happy to have advertised Ghana soccer at that high level,” stated Sackey, whose exploits have been recognized.
National recognition of her leadership qualities took place in 2007 when then President JA Kuffuor bestowed a national award on her. “I was very happy for the recognition. It motivated other sportswomen to sacrifice for the country,” she stated.
Reflecting, the New York -based African soccer queen has no regrets for playing soccer. Rather, she is very grateful and appreciates the doors that soccer has opened in her life.
“Soccer has been a stepping stone to attain greater heights. It helped me achieve my dream to further my education and become a professional accountant. My dream had always been to get [a] good education. Thanks to soccer, I had a chance to study business administration and majored in accounting at the Robert Morris College in Chicago. Over there, I was the captain of the soccer team and emerged all-time best scorer.”
The Queens skipper has helped some of her colleagues pursue further studies in the U.S.
“Education is important if you want to be part of the system in America. The ideal thing is to combine education and sports but if you cannot, focus on sports, and self-discipline will take you to the top,” stated the African soccer queen -turned -accountant.
The historic role of the Black Queens constitutes a vivid example of empowerment of women through sports. Today many Non-governmental Organizations (NGO) are using the power of female soccer to achieve developmental goals and effect socio-economic change in Ghana thanks to the hard work of Alberta and company. Women are asserting themselves in a male-dominated world. At the political level, Ghana has recently appointed her first female
Minister of Youth and Sports. Socially, the girl-child is conscious more than ever before of rape, child abuse, HIV Prevention, violence and teenage pregnancy, thanks to soccer as a tool for change. These changes could not have been possible under the old structure of “soccer for boys and netball for girls,” the dominant paradigm until Alberta and company put their best foot forward.
After the introduction of soccer into the country at the turn of the last century by the colonialists, merchants and missionaries, it was an all male affair and females started to play competitively only in the mid 80s. However, with Sackey, change did come at a price. “I love soccer and started playing with boys when other girls were playing ampe or netball. I had the beatings but I persevered. Times have changed and the mind set and attitudes of parents have also changed,” she explained.
The ex-skipper suggests that more needs to be done if the game is to be taken to the next level. Parents in the rural areas must let go of cultural inhibitions and must encourage their kids to play sports. Soccer promotes self-discipline, teamwork, respect and helps kids to stay out of trouble.
“Problems like teenage pregnancy, child abuse, sexual harassment, raping can be reduced in society if girls are encouraged to play soccer.”
Sackey says soccer exerts pressure to stay disciplined. “After a game, you are so tired. You would not even think of going out on the streets. In addition, you become very conscious of yourself. Society is watching you, the media are close by and there is pressure on you to lead a clean lifestyle.”
Reflecting further, Sackey says Ghana has yet to put her best foot forward in the promotion and development of female soccer. She urges Ghana to sustain the interest generated by provision of adequate resources
“The organization of women soccer must start from the basic schools. There must be district, regional and national competitions for girls.
“It took Ghana some time to get to the World Cup because some countries had taken the lead. They had juvenile and youth competitions and we did not. Also, we must put qualified people in positions.”
Sackey personally helps to empower women through soccer. She is a member of Right To Play, an NGO that uses the power of sports to impart skills to the youth and hopes to set up her own NGO one day.
With the Black Stars, their stars are shinning and it looks like there is no turning back. One can aptly say that behind every successful Black Star, there are successful Black Queen, given the inspirational role of the women.