Coach Freeman Amponsah faced Berry Ladies FC media Team after morning session training, looking ahead to another hugely important game in the Malta Guinness Women’s Premier League run in.
The manager faced questions on Portia Asante’s fitness, selection problems and facing Police Ladies FC at Achimota Park
Here’s a full transcript of what he said…
On team news and Priscilla Sintim Agyemang…
There are no real changes with the rest of the players who were still injured. We have some hope with one of them tomorrow – maybe she’s able to train.
On whether he can enjoy the run-in…
We do enjoy it, we have to enjoy it. We really need to embrace the moment and go for it. The team is full of enthusiasm and positivity, and we know that we have a big challenge, but I see a big opportunity to go to Achimota Park and do something that we haven’t done for many months. That’s what is driving the team in the last few days.
On the corresponding fixture last season and preparation this time…
For us, it’s something normal. We prepare for every game in a different way, and we prepare the concepts, we prepare the team mentally, and we prepare this scenario that we’re going to be playing for.
On his memories of winning at Home of Police Ladies FC…
Great because before that win, it had been many months since we had done it. We did it once more: We have defeated Police Ladies Fc before and we will do it again and i still remember those memories, some beautiful memories, an incredible park to play in and just a unique experience for any player or manager.
On how surprised he is with Police Ladies Fc’s season…
I have more admiration because it shows the difficulty of being at the top and transforming a football club, their identity, their beliefs and their competitive capacity for the last two to three years. It shows how difficult it is to maintain and sustain that level. We all have difficult moments but especially with what they’ve done at the club, I think it’s something remarkable.
On why it’s so hard to play at Achimota Park…
That they are a great team, managed by a top manager and they create an incredible atmosphere that makes it really difficult for us, for any opponent, as it is when to come to Madina Astroturf. You know, it’s very, very difficult, so we know that, and the opportunity is ahead of us there on Saturday to do something that we have done in the last two or three years, to win in places that the team didn’t do for many years.
On what has changed for Portia Sakyiwaa this season in front of goal…
[Click] Mentality – feeling capable of doing it and understanding the way she needs to be positioned in the right moments, training and being in every single day, willing to improve and support the team in the area that, in our opinion, was very necessary to take another step forward in a way of playing and winning more games.
On Cynthia Yiadom Boakye (Captain)’s new position…
I’m extremely happy with her. Again, she’s been really consistent, she has adapted to the position really well. The way they flow, and the way they play, especially with a few [different] players and the way they link up, it has been great. She will have other opportunities [with National Call Ups] in the future, for sure.
On the U-20 Call up for Jacqueline Amponsah and Martha Appiah Call Up to the National Team…
It’s great for the club. That’s what we want, being on the front foot in every competition and having the chance to win prizes. What these players have done is Women Football through Berry Ladies FC is remarkable- I’m so happy because it’s very positive for the club.
On Portia Asante being over her illness and slight injury…
Yes, she is.
On if winning there will prove Berry Ladies FC have improved…
Yes, and that’s what we have to prove on Saturday– to be able to go there and perform emotionally, be [tactically] sound and do the right thing that we have to do in each moment to get away with the result that we want.
On whether he can see himself having the same longevity as Coach Mercy…
I think at a club like this, you have to earn the right to do that. She absolutely earned that right with the way that she transformed the club and especially with the performances and results that they had, and then how much they won. You can sustain yourself at this level only if you produce the results that are necessary to ensure it.
On whether he can use what happened last season as motivation…
There are similarities. Obviously, the context is different, the team and the players on the pitch are going to be very, very different as well. We will have to use it in a way that becomes positive for us, and gives us energy and belief that we can do it, and that’s what we’ll do.
On how difficult it is to leave one of his forwards out this weekend…
Well, it depends on the moment and what we want to do and the quality we are seeking and the relationships that we want on certain days. Then obviously you have five changes, so you have the ability to change the game with those players, which is great for us. It’s much better to have that problem because at the moment they are all looking really good.
On whether he will have a conversation with whoever he leaves out…
Normally with players that are very much in contention (we tell them) to understand why we did it or why we made that decision. So it’s clarity and when there is clarity, I think the emotional state of the player is much better to be ready for the club and the team that we are going to be facing on Saturday.
On whether something clicked the day Berry Ladies FC beat Police Ladies FC previous seasons…
Those were big days for us, a big result, especially the way we did them. We did it at the end after having a really good second half performances as well. It all adds up, it all helps, and it all gives confidence to the team to go to a different level and have individual belief that they can win again against these types of teams.
On whether we have got over playing with fear against Police Ladies FC…
First of all, it’s a different group, we are coming from a different position and what I see is enthusiasm and positivity. And something that you need to have and that is courage. Courage to play, courage to impose yourself on the game and be dominant. On Saturday we will try to be that team.
On whether a win on Saturday will move the club forward to position 3 of 4) …
One result doesn’t get you there, unfortunately! We wish because then we could have been through many different phases this season. But it’s not that easy, it would be very helpful though!
On whether everybody has to keep their cool on Saturday to get a result…
Yes, they know that. They have experienced that. They are aware of that, we know what we have to do, nothing different. We have had tough experiences. We went to Thunder Queens FC and did what the team did, and the atmosphere doesn’t get much harder than that.
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Copyright 2023 Berry Ladies Football Club. Permission to use quotations from this article is granted subject to appropriate credit being given to www.berryladiesfcgh.com as the source.
