Fresh off their successful defence of the Africa Cup of Club Champions trophy earlier this month in Egypt, Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) Royal Ladies are refusing to rest on their laurels by setting their sights on an unprecedented sixth continental title with the aim of keeping the trophy for good.
The Ghanaian powerhouse, continental champions in 2017, 2021, 2022 and 2023, stamped their authority on the 2024/25 tournament in Ismailia with a flawless campaign.
Winning all five matches, they capped off their remarkable run with a commanding 3-0 victory over Egypt’s Smouha in the final.
Leading the charge was star striker Vivian Nakuor, whose 12-goal haul not only earned her the tournament’s Golden Boot but also saw her crowned Most Valuable Player (MVP).
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Her performances were a testament to the Royal Ladies’ continued supremacy on the African stage.
The team’s remarkable achievement was celebrated in style last Wednesday, as the GRA management, led by Commissioner General, Anthony Sarpong, honoured the players and technical staff with certificates of appreciation and generous cash rewards.
The ceremony, held at the Ministries in Accra, saw team captain Elizabeth Opoku proudly presenting the newly won trophy to the delight of fans and officials alike.
Despite the accolades, the Head Coach, Ida Marmon-Halm, said the celebrations were just the beginning and insisted her team remained unsatisfied. She is rallying support for yet another title defence, with the ultimate goal of winning the new trophy outright.
Hunger for more glory
Speaking exclusively to the Graphic Sports, the ambitious coach revealed her determination to build on this success and secure even more silverware.
“I always say we worked for it, so it wasn’t a surprise for me because I knew we were going to do it. To me, it’s fulfilling,” she said reflecting on their latest triumph. “Last year, we won the trophy for keeps, so this is a new one that was put up this year. We made up our mind that we were going for this one too. We started with this one, and we want to win it for keeps as well.”
Marmon-Halm, who took over as head coach last year after serving as assistant since 2012, has quickly established herself as a master tactician.
Yet, she remains refreshingly humble, attributing much of the team’s success to the dedication and discipline of her players.
“Training ladies is very difficult because if you don’t know how to speak to them, someone can get offended,” she explained.
“They need encouragement. Even when training is tough, you have to motivate them, and they’ll happily do whatever you ask. I thank them for their hard work, commitment, and ability to follow instructions. We trained for over a year to win this trophy because we knew we had to defend it. They all put in their best, and we achieved it.”
