I quit Halifax to concentrate on Black Queens

Mercy Tagoe- Quarcoo says her decision to quit as head coach of Women Premier League (WPL) club side Halifax Ladies is to help her focus more on national duties and also carry out a role assigned her by the Confederation of African Football (CAF).

Last Friday, the Nungua-based Halifax Ladies announced that Coach Tagoe-Quarcoo, who led them to qualify for the WPL three seasons ago, was parting ways with the club and did not assign any explanation.

In an interview with the Daily Graphic, however, Coach Tagoe-Quarcoo said it was not a personal decision but one taken in the interest of the national assignment and also to effectively carry out a role of being the trainer's trainer assigned her by CAF.

Explaining the reasons for her decision, Coach Tagoe-Quarcoo said: “It is a painful decision to leave the Halifax job at this time, as it also helps sharpens my skills.

However, it’s time to focus on the Black Queens. I need to go round and scout for players while the league is on so I will know the players to invite to camp for the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers ahead of us.

Busy schedule

“The coach envisages she would be travelling after being assigned a role by CAF to train some coaches for their CAF Licence D certificates.
Last week, I ran a course for coaches in Ghana and in the coming weeks, I will be travelling to other parts of West Africa to run similar courses, and given the schedule, I don’t want Halifax to unduly suffer.

“It is better for me to step aside and allow them to get someone to give them undivided attention. I think I have laid the structures and whoever takes charge should be able to handle the team. The assistant coach has learnt a lot and capable of stepping up to the role if the club management decides to hand her the role even if temporarily.”

No issue with Halifax

She dismissed suggestions that she had resigned because she had issues with the owners of the club and people had also started accusing her of favouring players from Halifax to be pencilled for Queens call up.

“Believe me, it’s nothing of what people are speculating. You’ve known me well to believe what I tell you. I have no issues with anyone or the management of the club. As for issues with a player call up, that is a laughable reason because if the players are good and deserve to be in the national team, why not? However, I intend to devote time to the job at hand and ensure that players deserving of a national call up get the chance. There is no way for favouritism as we intend to build a team good enough to first qualify for this year’s Women AFCON, as well as challenge for the title,” she emphasised.