Black Princesses coach Yusif Basigi is preparing his team for the Girls U-20 WAFU B Cup of Nations in Kumasi this month.
The manager is working to assemble a formidable side to compete for the title and also in readiness for future international assignments. Ghana will compete with Nigeria, Cote D’Ivoire, Benin, Niger, Togo and Burkina Faso in the first edition of the Girl’s U-20 WAFU B Cup of Nations scheduled for the Baba Yara Sports stadium from Saturday, May 20 – Saturday, June 4, 2023.
The Black Princesses will open their campaign on May 20 against Benin before taking on Cote D’Ivoire in the other group A game on Saturday, May 27, 2023.
Yussif Basigi has been touching on team preparation, the blend of new and established players, winning the WAFU Girls Cup of Nations and leading Ghana to another FIFA U-20 World Cup. He spoke El-Elyon McWilliams of ghanafa.org
Read on for the full transcript:
Yusif Basigi on new role
I have to first and foremost give thanks to the GFA and Executive Council for coming together and deciding on appointing me as the coach for the Black Princesses (Girls U-20).
On building the team
I think that there is a lot of work to be done because, the crop of players that went to the Costa Rica World Cup we’ll soon not have all of them here so, transitionally we have to bring on board the Black Maidens players and because they didn’t play the World Cup, you know we could not just take most of them as far as playing at high level is concerned. However, we depended on the data base given to us by the Technical head of the Black Maidens and then also, I went round to scout for players during the League matches, bringing all the potentials together. So, looking at the task ahead we have very limited time and already we have some household names in the team (U-20) and also very good potentials from the U-17.
On player blend and team chemistry
Immediately we are going to blend them together to raise a formidable team especially now that we are hosting, we need to do all that we can to impress Ghanaians and also to live up to expectations. So this one I don’t need the GFA to give me a target. I know what it takes to get up there and for that matter I’ve already discussed with the technical team to let us all work assiduously in order to achieve our set targets. For that matter we will be looking at the first batch and the second batch. We’ve gotten quite a number of players so objectively; we will be raising a very good team for the tournament.
On settling on players for the tournament
Already if you look at those coming from the U-17 it won’t be too difficult but, those in the U-20, we have some who are 20 this year. I have decided that I wouldn’t need them because if you add them or use them for this particular tournament it means that you will need to start all over again for the World Cup qualifiers. Meanwhile we have equally good players who can fit into their category and their positions and for that matter I have discarded those born in 2003 from the 2004, 2005 and 2006 batches, so that we can raise a long term team instead of thinking about raising another team immediately after the tournament. So, this is how we are working on it.
On expectations, pressure and performance
Well, indeed if we perform, even if Ghanaians are not expectant, there will be pressure. I enjoy working under pressure so, for me that is very good because, one, we will think about not disappointing Ghanaians, we will think about expectations that is why I said I have initially set targets for myself even without the FA telling me that ‘This is your target’. I have already set a target saying we were tasked to host the tournament and win and that is what is going to urge me to work very hard. So, for that one yes, pressure is a part of the game however, that pressure will not overcome what I am supposed to do. I will use it as a guide to work towards achieving our target.
On the other competing teams
This time round I will say that all the countries are doing well you can’t underrate or underestimate any country so, as much as Ghanaians know we have the talent there is more to it than that. For me I don’t look at it from that angle, I look at it as players with character, players with insight, so that with them we can achieve our goal but if you look at the way they train, some of them are training like horses but you could be wrong to use that to judge them. Because there are players who look perfect in training but fall short in crucial matches so for me I am looking at it from that angle. That is where we can get the best out of the best. So, I think that is how we are going to structure our team.
On players
Players with inner character inside, we look at the character that they have in them, mental fortitude because, they need to withstand every pressure that is coming because when they come here, we’re also going to put pressure on them to get us the results, we’re not going to relax at all.
On plan for the tournament
I think that World Cup qualifiers , Black Princesses after thinking of going past the group stages we have to think of qualifying for the World Cup itself without that you cant even get to the qualifying stages, let alone going past the group stages and for that matter we need to put our structures or plan our programme so that we will be able to qualify for the World Cup then we look at what it takes to go past the group stages so these are things that we are going to put together in order to get there.
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