Sports
A call to save Ghana sports
- /home/u249204778/domains/spectator.com.gh/public_html/wp-content/plugins/mvp-social-buttons/mvp-social-buttons.php on line 27
https://spectator.com.gh/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Members-of-the-Black-Bombers.jpg&description=A call to save Ghana sports', 'pinterestShare', 'width=750,height=350'); return false;" title="Pin This Post">
- Share
- Tweet /home/u249204778/domains/spectator.com.gh/public_html/wp-content/plugins/mvp-social-buttons/mvp-social-buttons.php on line 72
https://spectator.com.gh/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Members-of-the-Black-Bombers.jpg&description=A call to save Ghana sports', 'pinterestShare', 'width=750,height=350'); return false;" title="Pin This Post">
• Members of the Black Bombers
Three weeks ago, this column focused on an attempt by the national boxing team, the Black Bombers’ onslaught on tickets for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games made available at the ‘Road to Paris 2024’ qualifiers in Bangkok, Thailand.
At the time, the only team to have qualified for the Games was the 4x100m relay team from a similar qualifiers in the Bahamas.
That article under the headline ‘Black Bombers on rescue mission,’ sought to highlight the pressure on the Black Bombers to gain qualification to the global sporting extravaganza and add to the numbers of Team Ghana in Paris.
So, off to Bangkok an impressive Black Bombers team, made up of flyweight Theophilus Kpakpo Allotey, featherweight Mohammed Amadu, light welterweight Joseph Commey, light middleweight Henry Malm, light heavyweight Jonathan Tetteh, British-based super heavyweight Mark Kodjovi Ahondjo and United States-based female middleweight Ornella Sathoud, flew with high hopes.
Sadly, they failed to meet their own expectations and targets; meaning they would miss out on the competition that will feature the finest in the sport.
The team arrived on Tuesday at the Kotoka International Airport (KIA) with the disappointment of not qualifying written all over their faces.
From boxers, to coaches and administrators, the mood was that of sadness and dejection.
That was understandable, looking at the huge opportunity missed and the thought of waiting for another four years to start the process all over again.
The next time they reassemble for similar qualifiers, there is no guarantee whether every member of the group would be available.
Surely, the ageing and ambitious ones would want to transit to the professional ranks and create new slots to be filled.
But this is the reality check Ghanaian sports authorities must wake up to accept. It raises a lot of concerns over how the sport that used to provide initial candidates for the Games is now unable to do so.
Under the same technical leadership of Coach Ofori Asare, Ghana was a force in boxing at the Games though that cannot be substantiated on the Games medal table.
However, the likes of the Bastie brothers – Samir and Issah, Abdul Wahid Omar, Sulemana Tetteh, Samuel Takyi, Musa Rahman Lawson made Olympic qualification look easy.
So, why our boxers or athletes, generally, are struggling to qualify for the Olympics should be a matter of concern for sports administrators.
Two things immediately comes to mind – that it’s either by way of low investment in the sports or the fact that half-baked athletes are being produced.
With the Bangkok opportunity gone with the wind, hopes of getting a boost for athletics rests on the two day Confederation of Africa Athletics (CAA) Region II Athletics Championships that ended at the University of Ghana Sports Stadium on Wednesday.
It is the hope of Ghanaians that more athletes would qualify from the event to join the relay team to make a proper representation at the Games.
Anything short of this would affect our image as a country that believes in the power of sports.
By Andrew Nortey
Just a few years ago, Zinabu Issah’s life revolved around her small trading business, and competing in sports was not on her mind.
Today, the Ghanaian para-athlete stands proudly as a Commonwealth Games silver medalist, proving that determination, hard work and perseverance can transform lives in unimaginable ways.
Issah, who competes in the shot put, javelin and discus events, recalls how her journey began unexpectedly when Coach Emmanuel Sowah Anum approached her and encouraged her to try para-sports.
“I had no intention of doing any sport. I was a petty trader and one day my coach approached me and told me to take up the sport. When he first said it, I laughed because sports was not my thing.
“But he was persistent and eventually convinced me to take up the sport,” she told GNA Sports in an interview.
According to Zinabu, her decision was met with resistance from some family members and friends who questioned why a woman living with a disability would pursue field events.
She faced a lot of stereotypes and criticism, which could easily have discouraged her, but she decided to stay focused on achieving success.
“He (Coach) told me he had seen something in me and believed I could excel in the sport,” she said while expressing gratitude to her coach.
“I want to thank God first of all and also thank my coach for believing in me,” she added.
Her coach, Emmanuel Sowah in an interview, revealed that he spotted Zinabu in Kumasi in 2014 and admitted that life was very difficult for her at the time.
“I saw something in her. I knew I could make her a better field athlete despite her disability, and I personally bought her first training kit. Over the past years, she has developed impressively,” he said.
Coach Sowah said he believes Zinabu can achieve even more and hopes she can step up at the next Paralympic Games, which he is confident she will qualify for.
The road from being a trader to competing in shot put, discus and javelin has been remarkable.
Zinabu has featured in numerous international tournaments, most notably winning gold at the 2024 Paralympic Games Qualifiers Grand Prix in Marrakech, Morocco.
The success earned her recognition, including an award at the 9th Women in Sports Association (WISA) Awards, a moment she says significantly boosted her confidence and motivation.
Her latest achievement came at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, where she delivered a season-best throw of 8.65 metres to secure silver in the women’s F57 shot put.
That was Ghana’s first medal of the Games and, according to Zinabu, the victory has changed perceptions within her family.
“Ever since my winning moment at the 2026 Commonwealth Games, my family have praised my exploits, and I am excited about that.
“My junior sister, who in the past told me to stop and promised to give me money to start a new business, is today excited about my achievement,” she said.
With her sights now firmly set on the 2028 Paralympic Games, Zinabu is determined to continue breaking barriers.
“I am preparing for the Paralympics, and I am optimistic of qualification. My target is to go for the gold medal,” she said.
For Zinabu, the journey from being a petty trader to a Commonwealth Games medalist is more than a personal triumph is a story of resilience, belief and the power of giving opportunity a chance. –GNA
The Angel Starlight Foundation (ASF) last Friday presented assorted food items to learners and management of the Street Academy, a sports and cultural organisation in Accra.
Mrs Angel Addo, Founder of the NGO made the donation as part of her birthday celebration.
She presented bags of rice, beans, maize, gallons of cooking oil, biscuits, drinks, soap and toilet rolls.
“This is a yearly ritual for me; choosing to celebrate my birthday with children of the Academy. They are very dear to my heart,” she told the Spectator.
She said “these are underprivileged children who through no fault of theirs find themselves on the streets but have been fortunate to be picked by the Academy and are receiving care.”
He urged government and corporate Ghana to also support the Academy in order to support such children who are offered formal education and trained in skilled programmes.
Receiving the items, Dr Ataa Lartey, Founder of the Academy thanked the Foundation for the gesture which he said would go a long way to ease the burden of the Academy.
In another development, the Academy will host its annual health walk today.
The event would attract children from the Academy and those from neighbouring communities and keep fit enthusiasts.
By Spectator Reporter
