Sports
Autistic cyclist dazzles at Homowo Cycling Challenge
Autistic cyclist, Young Phil Bertino was the toast of fans at this year’s Homowo Cycling Challenge at Teshie recently when he joined over 70 professional cyclists for the event.
Young Phil, who was the guest rider, put up a splendid performance to finish his 76km race in a time of 2:45:33secs with an average speed of 27.56km/h, and received massive cheers for his effort.
The cycling sensation was presented with a special trophy, medal and jersey for his tremendous achievement on the day.
Speaking after the event, Founder of the Liztino Centre for Children with Special Needs and mother of Young Phil, Mrs Angel Bertino expressed appreciation to organisers for providing the platform for her ward to exhibit his talent.
Mrs Bertino, who also sponsored the event, called for the need to expose children with autism to physical activities such as cycling.
“There are many of such children like Phil in our communities and are rejected and called names because of their attributes. But just like Phil managed to get better and gradually becoming one of the best cyclists in the country, every other kid could also get well and live a normal life,” she stated.
She added that, the public must accept such children and support them to grow and become responsible to society.
Organiser of the Challenge, Nathaniel Sowah Agoe, also commended Phil and all cyclists for showing up for 17th edition of the event.
The main 90km criteria race was however won by Ghana’s top cyclist, Frank Akuffo with Frank Quaye and Prince Kudufia settling for the second and third positions respectively.
BY MICHAEL D. ABAYATEYE
Title chasers Medeama SC will host Asante Kotoko in a top Ghana Premier League Matchday 29 fixture tomorrow at the TnA Stadium in Tarkwa.
A win will keep their title dreams alive while a draw or defeat will play into the hands of current leaders Bibiani Gold Stars.
But Medeama are determined to leverage their home advantage to secure all three points against the Kotoko side that is crestfallen after losing 2–1 to Samartex in their rescheduled fixture on Tuesday at home.
Both sides have engaged in cagey and high-stakes contests in recent times, with Kotoko holding a slight edge over the Mauve and Yellow. However, the current form of Medeama may prove to be a tall order for the visitors.
Today at the Nil Adjei Kraku II Sports Complex in Tema New Town, Hearts of Oak will hope to secure a second consecutive win when they face Vision FC.
Hearts are aiming to reignite their title charge after picking up all three points against Young Apostles last week, while Vision FC suffered a 2–0 defeat to Heart of Lions in Kpando.
Samartex FC will return to their fortress, the Nsenkyire Sports Arena, to welcome Berekum Chelsea.
At the Tuba Astro Turf, Dreams FC will hope to return to winning ways when they take on Eleven Wonders.
Elsewhere, Basake Holy Stars will travel to the Kwame Kyei Sports Complex to face 13th-placed Nations FC.
Sixth-placed Karela United will welcome Heart of Lions to the Aliu Mahama Sports Stadium in Tamale, with Bechem United FC set to have a rest day with their three points and three goals assured following the withdrawal of Hohoe United.
The year 2025 was one boxing stakeholders would look at with lots of regrets. Events in the sport within that period, to a large extent, eroded the gains chalked in recent times.
First, the death of a Nigerian boxer in a Ghanaian ring opened a canker of worms in the administration of the sport as officials in the corridors of power openly traded verbal tirades over competence and style of management. That left the Ghana Boxing Authority (GBA) broken and divided, leading to the resignation of its president, Mr Abraham Neequaye.
In his absence, a vice president, Roger Barnor, stepped into the saddle. With renewed energy and vigour, he managed to unite the rank and file of the sport as other stakeholders praised that effort.
But just when the GBA appeared to have seen some stability, it was hit by another thunderstorm – the death of another boxer, Ernest ‘Baubali’ Akushey. His death came 11 days after a fight. That marked the premature end to Barnor’s term as Vice President acting as the President.
In the view of the powers that be, the formation of an Interim Management Committee to govern the sport and lead reforms was the way to go. With the latest of about two extensions of their mandates, they are expected to complete their work in June, including an election of a new executive to run the sport.
Within this period, boxing ground to a halt. All pending events were put on hold, with a few promoters heavily affected due to investment made before the unexpected takeover.
But since the return of the sport, syndicates like Legacy Rise, Box Office Sports (BOS), Bishop Promotions, RBS and others have staged shows to keep the scene alive.
Two boxers have been at the forefront of this revival. Jonathan ‘Worldwide’ Tetteh and Seth ‘Freezy MacBones’ Gyimah led the revival with a historic clash that filled the University of Ghana Stadium.
Without doubt, they have filled the void created by Baubali’s departure. Though ‘Freezy MacBones,’ the overwhelming favourite, lost on the scorecards, the nature of the fight and ruling left doors open for a rematch to be staged at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium.
Last week, the two boxers again featured on a BOS, RBS promotion at the Laboma Beach, facing different opponents, and they all emerged victorious.
These two boxers are gradually becoming the new face of boxing in Ghana and that will bode well for the sport. In their last two appearances, they showed an ability to sell their fights and that was evident in the numbers in the stands on fight night. This is something that is lacking from other boxers and their management teams.
Globally, the sport has thrived with boxers of such charisma always featured on big bills. Others like Theophilus Allotey, aka Theo Lopez, Joseph ‘Jaguar’ Commey, Samuel Takyi and John Laryea are other boxers to hold the flag high for Ghana.
Boxing’s return has been stupendous, and the drivers of that success must be commended, not leaving out ‘Worldwide’ and Freezy MacBones for keeping the flames of the sport alive.
By Andrew Nortey
