Hasaacas Ladies midfielder Azumah Bugre is hoping to make her family and especially her mum proud by winning the CAF Women's Champions League.
The midfielder has been splendid for the Western giants at the tournament in Egypt, helping them reach the finals of the competition.
Bugre believes she would not have been where she is today had it not been her mother, who kept supporting her despite the challenges she faced as a female playing football.
“I used to play football with boys in the school, they used to sack me saying I shouldn’t play football because I’m a girl, but I kept coming back. Then I realized I can really play football, and so did they. Then I started playing in a female team. It was not easy to start playing football, but I did it. Where I come from, girls are only prepared to get married and cook for their men, so what I did was out of the norm. But playing football makes me happy, so I had to do it," she told CAFonline.com.
“Now that I’m playing in WCL, everyone is amazed. ‘We did not think you can make it this far’ they say. But my mother, who fought to take care of 5 kids, always supported me from the first minute. She was not always capable financially, but she did everything she could for me.
“I want to tell young girls out there: ‘you have the power in you to be who you want to be’. It all depends on the determination, focus, hard work the person delivers. If I had listened to anyone bringing me down, I wouldn’t have been here now. And parents, especially African parents, supporting what your kids want, it really helps. Do not kill their talents, stand by them and show them the way, whether it’s sports or anything else. A family’s support is the most important thing for a person. I will spill every drop of sweat in the final, because I know my mother will be watching and supporting me."