The Ghana Cricket Association’s Senior Women’s emerging camp entered week 2 over the weekend and saw nine (9) U-19 girls from the Central Region go through the various sessions at the Achimota Cricket Oval for Saturday and Sunday, January 21 & 22, 2023.
Hungrier for success due to the passion for the game, Mary Ndzibah, Louisa Dadzie, Grace Quaicoe, Grace Essoun, Matilda Fynn, Jessica Aikins, Ernestina Sagoe, Leticia Kakraba and wicket keeper Hannah Assan were super excited to have been taken through the various catching techniques in fielding, the different types of shots in batting, as well as all there is to know in bowling.
Additionally, Hannah Assan, the wicket keeper was taken through set-up, standing up for slow bowlers and standing back for seam bowlers.
While Angela Allotey, Treasurer of the Ghana Cricket Association and Ambassador for female Cricket in Ghana believes Ghana will make a case in Africa soon, Head Coach of the Senior Women’s National Team, Obed Harvey talks about how different week 2 was.
“Thanks to the guys for coming with girls who are hungry, looking forward to exposure and high performance; a different set of play, compared to what they already are aware of. There is nothing new, or extra from the previous group, just that these girls are putting themselves in the right position to get recognized. In all fairness, they are doing really well and have what it takes and hopefully, we will keep up the momentum and scout few girls to join the senior women’s structure.”
Francis Ayikai Okai is a board member of the Ghana Cricket Association and leader of the Central region batch and he believes this will broaden the skills of the girls and coaches.
“We are glad that the Ghana Cricket Association has organized such a program for all the hubs. We are also grateful to the Senior Head coach for the dedication towards this camp. Indeed, we have gotten this camp at the right time as we have been yearning for and it will awaken the spirit of cricket in every region. It will throw more light in the game for us, as the girls will have their skills sharpened. Our play in the various regions will be enhanced now, because the girls really love the training sessions.”
Coaches from the Central Region, Saltpond to be precise, Kwamina Enu Thompson and Rueben Charles Pobee Okine, were delighted to have also learnt new things in coaching.
“We have known some set ups for warm up, as we weren’t doing it well. We have learnt the different typed of fielding, the diving and rowing and more on high catches. We have as well, known some technicalities in bowling and batting. We use to do drive shot but now the cut, pull and blocking of shots. So, we have learnt some basic technicalities that we sending back to our region.”
The girls spoke to TalksenseSports and shared how very good the exposure and experience was for them as they couldn’t just hide their joy.
“We didn’t know about diving for catches, but now we have learnt it, as the ball goes away from you. We have also learnt the various steps before hitting the ball, whether it pitches or still in the air. We hope that other colleagues get the opportunity to come and learn, because it wasn’t easy.”
The train for the emerging camp now moves to Obuasi, KNUST Cricket Oval for the final weekend on January 28 & 29, 2023.
With the hope of repeating this exercise periodically, Ghana’s future is bright, as consistency will make the competition tight for selection into the national team every other tournament that will come.
By: Davis Nii Attuquaye Clottey
