Black Starlets coach Laryea Kingston set sight on U-17 AFCON qualification
By Eustace Nii AKWEI, Accra
Black Starlets coach Laryea Kingston has expressed his determination to secure qualification for the CAF Under-17 Cup of Nations.
The team’s path to qualification hinges on their performance at the West Africa Football Union (WAFU) Zone B tournament, set to commence today.
As Ghana prepare to kick off their campaign in Group A against Cote d’Ivoire, Laryea Kingston highlighted the significance of their participation in the recently concluded UEFA U-16 Invitational tournament in Russia.
He believes that the experience gained from competing in this prestigious tournament will contribute to their quest for success in the upcoming WAFU tournament and ultimately, qualification for the Under-17 AFCON.
”The journey has been tedious but experience wise it’s worth it, especially with the boys, our takeaway has been very positive’,” he said.
”We had our first loss against Russia since the technical team took over, our first loss in so many games, for us it was very shocking and the boys as well, but for me I think our next game against Serbia, they learnt from their mistakes and they came out playing very well”.
”We met a different style of play, in the first edition that we featured in Serbia. It was more of Western Europeans participating and this time around it was more of Eastern Europeans, so for me I think it was a very good experience for me as a coach to understand every part of world the way they play and the mindset of the coaches.”
Laryea Kingston, who played a key role in Ghana’s U-17 team that reached the World Cup final against Brazil in 1997, boasts an impressive coaching record with the Black Starlets.
In his tenure as coach, the team has suffered only one defeat in 14 matches.
They have secured victories in ten matches, showcasing their prowess with an impressive tally of 46 goals scored.
As Ghana gear up for their campaign in the WAFU Zone B tournament, they face a challenging opener against Cote d’Ivoire on Wednesday.
Following this, they will confront Benin in their final group game.
The tournament, scheduled to conclude on May 28, 2024, promises to be an exciting test for the Black Starlets as they aim to showcase their talent and secure qualification for the CAF Under 17 Cup of Nations.
