Sports
Playing games with COVID-19
Government’s revealingly resolute fight against COVID-19 appears to be an exercise in futility. Yes, so it seems!
You want to know why? Ok, wait a minute. Just relax!
Today, it is not uncommon to see football parks and fields bustling in the mornings especially – with gross disregard for social distancing. In many fields that one visited at Accra’s suburbs – Teshie and Nungua in particular, young footballers under the supervision of their coaches, were seen busily training with players being shoved off the ball by their colleagues in fierce challenge for possession.
Questions that freely flooded the mind were: have these players and their coaches heard of the noxious coronavirus (COVID-19); are they aware of how fatal the virus is and the tens of thousands that have perished from it?
Are they aware there is still a ban on social gathering? Are they aware all sporting activities, at least in the country, have been put on ice till further notice? Do they know they could spread the virus or contract it – depending on their current status?
Indeed, there are loads of ‘64,000-dollar questions’ that are edgily begging for responses – quick responses.
Whilst watching from afar as some of these boys train, a couple of police officers drove pass, only stealing glances from the window of their vehicles. Again, one quizzed; why were the police not interested in the gross violation of the President’s directive? Are they tired of performing their duties?
As of Wednesday, 7,117 people in Ghana have been infected by the virus with 2,317 recoveries and 34 deaths. Of course, the fatality ratio may be relatively insignificant, but we are certainly nowhere out of the woods. We are neck-deep in it!
Perhaps, we ought to remind everybody that it is now an offence to breach the COVID-19 safety protocols. It is even now a crime to walk into the public space without wearing a face mask. Not so?
Indeed, quite a significant number of people are flouting the Imposition of Restrictions Act, 2020 (Act 1020) with glee and impunity; and this is the primary legal instrument in the government of Ghana’s fight against the coronavirus pandemic.
The police, though, has made some good number of arrests. Others, too, have been prosecuted and jailed or fined. Sadly, it has not proven to serve as enough deterrence. Clearly, they (police) have got to do more!
It has been rumoured that the President is likely to relax the restrictions on COVID-19 this weekend, which ultimately means football and other sport disciplines could be navigating their way into action.
As a matter of fact, other countries like Germany have ushered home their football. The Bundesliga, the elite German league, restarted a fortnight ago, albeit it was held in an empty stadium.
However, until such time that the ban is lifted on mass gathering; it would be advisable for our young footballers and sports people to exercise restraint in their daily endeavours – especially with regard to training en mass.
At best, they can train individually at home, for now. Let us not take things for granted even if we are being told that COVID-19 has come to live with us.
PlainTalk with JOHN VIGAH
Sports
Sports Ministry, PGA Ghana to roll out ‘Golf-in-School’ programme
The Minister for Sports and Recreation, Mr Kofi Iddie Adams, says his sector is ready to leverage golf as a tool for sports development and environmental consciousness in the country.
In his view, a sport like golf must be given the needed attention because of its potential to enhance development and boost economic benefits to the youth.
Mr Adams gave the remark when he received a delegation from the Professional Golfers Association (PGA), Ghana.
The team was led by its president, Mr Hans De Beer and accompanied by other top officials.
At the heart of the meeting was a shared commitment to reposition golf, most importantly professional golf as a powerful tool not only for sporting excellence but also for promoting ecological awareness and social inclusion.
Mr Adams acknowledged the current collaboration between the ministry and the PGA and acknowledged PGA’s recognition of the Ministry’s support for both amateur and professional golf in Ghana.
He stated that sports development cannot thrive in isolation and requires strong partnerships, visionary planning, and collective action, emphasising the importance of golf in promoting discipline, strategy, and respect for nature.
According to the Sports Minister, every golfer becomes an advocate for the environment, adding that “it is time to introduce golf in schools. This initiative would nurture young minds to value green spaces while embracing a sport that has enormous potential for tourism, health, and character development.”
He assured the PGA team that their collaboration would move beyond dialogue into action, with plans to develop golf-in-schools programmes, roll out climate-awareness campaigns, and engage communities across regions in growing the game.
That vision, he said aligns with the country’s efforts to promote sustainable development and environmental conservation.
“By introducing golf-in-schools, it would instill values of discipline, hard work, and respect for nature in young people. The planned golf-in-schools programmes would not only promote the sport but also provide opportunities for young people to develop important life skills,” Mr Adams who doubles as a Member of Parliament for the Buem Constituency stated.
Responding, Mr De Beer, expressed their gratitude for the sports Minister’s support and commitment to developing golf in Ghana and also welcomed the opportunity to collaborate with the Ministry and contribute to the growth of the sport in the country.
The meeting marked the beginning of a long-term partnership between the Ministry and the PGA to strengthen golf in Ghana and build a legacy that connects sport with sustainability.
Other PGA executive members who were present at the meeting include: Alhaji Ahmed Padori, Vice President, Tournament Director, Eric Henaku, Assistant Tournament Director, Francis Torgah, Emos Kwablah a senior member and Secretary of the Ladies’ Professional Golfers of Ghana Mercy Werner
By Spectator Reporter
Sports
Neequaye’s GBA exit …What might have caused it?
AN announcement from the communication team of the Ghana Boxing Authority (GBA) informing stakeholders about the resignation of its president, Mr Abraham Kotei Neequaye has got fans thinking.
The resignation in itself is not a big issue.
Fact is, under the current circumstances, it may seem the best decision by Mr Neequaye who has supervised the most tumultuous boxing era in Ghana.
That is not to suggest that previous leaders of the association were saints; however, the level of acrimony under this administration is unprecedented.
Lucky to have witnessed the era of Mr Nii Quaye Mensah, Mr Moses Foh-Amoaning, Mr Samir Captan, Mr Peter Zwennes; one can confidently say the scene has never been that electric.
But what exists now is nothing short of a life in the boxing ring.
Wednesday’s announcement of an indication to resign yesterday (Friday, June 27) also got a few tongues wiggling with the timing.
Seeming to have brave the odds to such a crucial time that the association was preparing for its Elective Congress to put in place a new executive team; and Neequaye himself sounding confident of retaining his seat for another term, only to drop his guard last minute clearly suggests that there is more beyond what the eye can see.
Evidently, there is fire on the GBA’s corridors of power.
He has cited personal reasons for the decision but that has also sent journalists on a wild goose chase, finding anything available that is related to boxing to connect.
It has also left the Pandora’s Box opened with all manner of reasons flying around the media space.
A section of the media have tried to link the decision to findings and recommendation by a ministerial committee formed to probe the circumstances under which a Nigerian boxer died in Ghana during a fight sanctioned by the GBA.
Others are of the opinion that the embattled GBA boss was only trying to face the realities of the time.
This has come from a school of thought that he has realised he stands no chance in the impending election due to the bad blood between him and a huge number of stakeholders of the sport.
A few have managed to introduce some political theatrics into the Neequaye resignation drama, citing tensions between him and some party big wigs including the Minister of Sports and Recreation.
These are interesting times for the boxing fraternity.
But it’s amazing how time flies and how a lot of things can change with time.
Four or so years ago when Mr Peter Zwennes decided to step down as GBA boss, Neequaye was deemed the Messiah to take the sport to a new level.
He gained the support of these stakeholders who have become sworn enemies and was able to win against some heavyweights including a former promoter, Mr Henry Manly Spain.
The coaches, promoters, boxers, referees and other identifiable groups sang his praise but how all of these changed in less than a year remains a mystery.
Just after a year, key members of his executives confided in friends about contesting their president who they claimed to be going ‘out of order.’
Aside the verbal exchanges, other issues have gone to court for interpretation but all these moves are yet to restore peace and sanity in the GBA.
Stakeholders planning to shock Neequaye at the polls may be left stunned by the decision to bow out at the 11th round.
It is the hope of all that the next elected president can restore the peace and unity the GBA enjoyed and bring the stakeholders together.
But, however one looks at it, the history of the GBA would be incomplete without the strides of Neequaye whose tenure replicated the Foh-Amoaning’s Mortein Boxing League with what came to be known as the Imax Boxing League which also came with its own stories and challenges to promoters.
By Andrew Nortey
