The United States Embassy in Ghana on Wednesday, September 9, held a capacity-building programme for Ghanaian coaches focused on the development of female athletes under its American Spaces initiative.
The programme brought together coaches, club officials, players, sports stakeholders and members of the media for an engaging session aimed at equipping participants with practical knowledge and fresh perspectives on developing female athletes beyond the traditional technical and tactical aspects of sport.
The session was moderated by sports content creator Bernice Boakye Ansah, with a distinguished panel comprising former American professional soccer player Kofi Sarkodie, World Cup champion, pioneering coach and women’s football advocate Amy Griffin, and lawyer and CEO of Ridge City Football Club, Cleopatra Nsiah Nketiah.
Amy Griffin challenged coaches to look beyond a player’s abilities on the field and develop meaningful relationships with their athletes, stressing that understanding who players are as individuals can have a significant impact on their development. She urged coaches to discover what motivates each player and find the right approach to inspire them.
According to Griffin, effective coaching goes beyond tactics and technical ability, with genuine connection and care playing a major role in helping athletes grow. She said the ultimate goal is to reach a point where motivation becomes routine, with players developing an internal desire to improve and take responsibility for their own progress. “People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care,” she emphasised.
For Cleopatra Nsiah Nketiah, her journey into women’s football was driven by the need to create an environment where women could participate in football without having to compromise their careers or identities. She recounted how her difficulty finding a suitable women’s football environment after returning to Ghana from the United Kingdom eventually inspired her to establish Ridge City FC.
Nsiah Nketiah explained that she initially started the club simply because she wanted a space where she and other women could play football on their own terms. However, the project quickly grew as talented players joined the club. She said her experience has strengthened her resolve to challenge misconceptions surrounding women’s football and create an environment where female players can be themselves, develop and thrive.
Kofi Sarkodie, reflecting on the programme, said coaches have a powerful role to play in shaping the culture of their teams and influencing the lives of young athletes. He urged coaches to use that influence to build confidence, self-belief and leadership qualities among their players. “Coaches can build the cultures within each of their teams,” Sarkodie said, adding that the positive values instilled in young players can extend beyond football and impact their communities.
The programme highlighted the importance of investing in coaches as a critical step towards strengthening women’s football in Ghana, with participants encouraged to apply the lessons from the session to create more supportive, empowering and sustainable pathways for female athletes.
By: Victoria Kwofie
