Sports
Better times ahead for Stacey
Harry Stacey
“I’m not too mad at the performance, although it wasn’t my best. It’s been a learning experience and definitely building blocks for the future.”
The above was the reaction from one of Ghana’s two representatives in swimming at the ongoing Paris 2024 Olympic Games, Harry Stacey.
As a debutant and relatively a new face as far as swimming was concerned in Ghana, not much was required of him.
So when he lined up in the 100m Men Freestyle event in Heat 4, expectation was modest.
Stacey finished seventh with a time of 51.12 seconds, failing to qualify to the semifinals of the event.
As if that was not enough, the former Marlins Swim Club member’s time could notbetter his national record time of 50.57 seconds over the distance.
Naturally, the performance and disappointing outcome appears to have gone with the wind because ‘Fellow’ Ghanaians are becoming indifferent towards the country’s contingents at such sports festivals.
As a beneficiary of one of the two wild cards granted by World Aquatics, FINA, following Ghana’s showing in swimming at the Accra 2023 Africa Games, Stacey was granted an opportunity to more or less dine with the swimming greats.
He represented no threat to any of the medals at stake because his time comes nowhere near the properly qualified swimmers.
As a young lad coming up, he and Ghana should be grateful for the opportunity and not be so shattered about his performance.
Stacey must be guided by the second part of the quote attributed to him that, “It’s been a learning experience and definitely building blocks for the future.”
That perfectly describes his situation, especially when featuring in an event like swimming, dominated by countries such as the USA, Australia, South Africa and others with competitive advantage.
Instead of crying over spilt milk, Stacey should remain focused on improving his performances to record better times. His dream is very possible, but will take a lot of time, sacrifice and dedication to reach there.
The fact that swimming is yet to chalk any major feat as far as international championships are concerned does not mean that no athlete from Ghana can gain global recognition.
Under our own eyes and noses, South Sudan, a country with a dog’s chance in the world of sport is being discussed on major platforms because of the performance exhibited by its basketball team, the Bright Stars.
They convincingly defeated Puerto Rico in the basketball event at the ongoing Games. Prior to that, they faced almighty USA in a preparatory game before the Games kicked off, losing by just a basket.
Clearly, that is an indication that there could be light at the end of the tunnel for the young and upcoming Stacey who would ride at the back of this opportunity to take the swimming world by storm.
By Andrew Nortey
Officials from the Ghana mission in the United Arab Emirates have paid a morale-boosting visit to the camp of the Black Queens.
The delegation, made up of Consular Officer Percy Okudzeto, Consul and Head of Chancery Abdul-Jalil Sigli Yakubu Abdulai and Head of Transport Anas Shaibu, visited the team to assure them of the government’s support and commitment to their safety and welfare.
During the visit, the officials interacted with the team and offered words of encouragement, urging the team to remain focused on the tournament despite concerns surrounding unrest in parts of the UAE.
Consular Officer Percy Okudzeto emphasised that the Ghanaian government, through its diplomatic mission, is closely monitoring the situation and is committed to ensuring the team’s safety throughout their stay.
“We want the team to stay calm and focus on the competition. The government and the embassy are doing everything possible to ensure your safety and well-being.” he said.
Consul and Head of Chancery Abdul-Jalil Sigli Yakubu Abdulai also reiterated the mission’s readiness to provide any assistance required by the team during the tournament.
Leadership of the team expressed appreciation for the visit, describing it as timely and motivating.
With the backing of Ghana’s diplomatic officials in the UAE, the Black Queens remain determined to represent the country proudly and deliver strong performances in the Pink Ladies Cup.
The Black Queens have arrived in the United Arab Emirates to participate in the upcoming Pink Ladies Cup in Dubai. The team touched down at the Dubai International Airport via Emirates Air on Wednesday morning and were warmly received by the competition’s organising officials.
The squad will be based at the Four Points by Sheraton Hotel, where they will begin their final preparations for the tournament. Organised as part of the international women’s football calendar, the Pink Ladies Cup is expected to feature four national sides using the competition to assess their squads and fine-tune strategies for upcoming tournaments.
Ghana will open their campaign today with a clash against Hong Kong, while Russia and Tanzania face off in the other opening match.
The Black Queens are then scheduled to return to action on March 3, when they take on Russia in a match expected to test them against a physically strong opponent.
The final round of games will be played on March 6, with Ghana closing their campaign against Tanzania at 9:00 pm.
With three matches in eight days, the tournament promises to be a crucial phase in Ghana’s preparation, as the Black Queens aim to return to continental action sharper, stronger, and more competitive.
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