Sports
Takyi’s bravado saves a nation’s Olympic blushes
To the cavilers, Ghana’s campaign at the Tokyo Olympic Games was disastrous. To others, it was a cameo suggesting there is great future ahead.
Amid a typhoon-like Covid pandemic that ruthlessly swept its anger across the world – killing thousands – and destroying livelihoods, Japan’s capital Tokyo, still proceeded to welcome some 11,500 passion-driven athletes to the Games.
So, after the hustles and bustles of intense chase, 14 athletes from Ghana were able to make the Olympic qualification nark – swaggering into a quadrennial event that has not given the nation a medal since 1992 in Barcelona, Spain, when the Black Meteors clinched what was Africa’s first medal (bronze) in football.
Again, for 49 years, no single individual sport has given the nation a medal.
Truth is that expectation of a medal from Tokyo was deemed almost a distant possibility. Even the biggest optimist doubted for once – reason being that preparation was woefully inadequate.
However, captain of Ghana’s amateur boxing team (Black Bombers), Sulemana Tetteh, on July 26 offered the nation the biggest hope as he won his first bout – silently knocking off any lingering doubt of a medal fiasco in Tokyo.
But two days later, Ghana’s representative in judoka Sensei Anani Kwadjo was swatted aside in the 90kg event. It was a learning curve for the 21-year-old who bowed to a more experienced South Korean.
On the same night, the unheralded Samuel Takyi wrapped up a unanimous 5-0 win against Ecuador’s Caicedo Pachito in his opening featherweight contest.
Sadly, the joy that greeted Takyi’s victory was to evaporate with humiliating rapidity few hours later when light heavyweight Shakur Samed was technically stopped by his Turkish opponent Bayram Malkan. It was a humbling experience too for the loser whose siblings were also ‘medal-less’ at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
Come July 29, Ghana’s finest swimmer Abeiku Jackson, finished first in the 100m men’s butterfly. Many Ghanaians cart-wheeled into celebration only to be told that his time of 53:39, was not enough to see him into the semi-final stage. All the same, it was a great performance, and a corking one for the future. A day later, though, Abeiku’s swimming compatriot Unilez Takyi – placed last in the women’s 50m freestyle event. No comment on that one.
Perhaps, the most bewildering performance came from Nadia Eke in the triple jump – recording no jumps in all three attempts. It was limpidly clear she was not ready for the event; maybe, just happy to have tasted Olympics.
Little wonder, Eke was quick to announce her retirement soon after her failure.
On Saturday, July 31, Benjamin Azamati surprised many Ghanaians after placing fourth during heat 7 of the 100m race, recording 10.13 secs. Winner of that heat was Australia’s Rohan Browning. He was tipped to do far better.
Azamati made history by breaking a 22-year national record held by Leo Myles Mills on March 26, 2021 in Texas, USA, by clocking 9.97 seconds to qualify for the Tokyo and many he could reenact that performance. He blames his Tokyo performance to stage fright. Well, he is a huge potential.
On same day, Christian Amoah slumped badly in weightlifting, attributing his bad output to an injury he sustained earlier. It looks like he had seen his last Olympics, having tasted the previous one in Rio, Brazil.
After bouts of bitter-sweet recordings, the biggest joy popped up like champagne in the early hours of August 1 when Takyi decisioned his opponent 3-2 and hopped into the medal zone – basically giving Ghana its first boxing medal (bronze) since Prince Amartey in Munich ’72. A 49-year-old demon was effectively exorcised by the 21-year-old lad who has proven to be a huge revelation in Tokyo.
On July 3, Takyi attempted to box his way beyond his bronze feat but crashed 1-4 to the more experienced United States’ Duke Ragan.
The defeat, notwithstanding, the former ‘truck pusher’ has written his name in the hearts of Ghanaians. He was the biggest thing that happened to Ghana in Tokyo – and must be hugely celebrated when the contingent returns home.
Any hope for the sprints? Well, Sprinter Joseph Paul Amoah finished third in heat 7 to cruise into the semis but subsequently failed to make the final cut later.
But when it all appeared that athletics was not going to make any big impression, Ghana’s 4x100m men’s quartet qualified for the Olympic finals with a new national record of 38.08 secs. As of press time, the team was preparing to dash for the medal race. Who knows it might be another medal for Ghana? And, that would have been awesome!
Having said that, the total performance of our contingent indicated that we could have done better if we had prepared well. It was no Covid issue. We failed to invest in our preparations and the upshot was exactly what we reaped.
We must be extremely lucky to be returning with something, courtesy Takyi! He saved the nation’s Olympic blushes!
PlainTalk with JOHN VIGAH
Attention will be at the Golden City Park in Berekum tomorrow as Hearts of Oak lock horns with Berekum Chelsea FC in a Ghana Premier League Matchday 6 game that promises an electrifying atmosphere.
Lying sixth on the league table with two wins and three draws, the Phobians visit a ground that has been favourable to them in recent times. In their last three visits to the Golden City Park, Hearts have amassed seven out of nine points, putting them in strong contention to win.
Head Coach Mas-Ud Didi Dramani says, “The team is making progress in its tactical identity despite the lack of goals, and this is something we are working on ahead of this game.”
Hearts will come face-to-face with former coach Samuel Boadu, whose side lies a distant 13th on the league table with a win and a draw from four games. Coach Boadu is yet to celebrate a victory over the Phobians since joining the Berekum lads and would hope this fixture marks a turnaround.
Ninth-placed Vision FC would trek to the Nana Fosu Gyeabour Park in Bechem to play Bechem United, while new boys Hohoe United host Aduana FC at the Hohoe Sports Stadium.
Returnees Swedru All Blacks will welcome Basake Holy Stars to the Swedru Sports Stadium, with defending league champions Bibiani Gold Stars staying put at their backyard, the Dun’s Park, to welcome second-placed Heart of Lions FC on Monday.
Today at the TnA Stadium in Tarkwa, Medeama SC will clash with Samartex FC in a Western derby. Other games scheduled for today would see Eleven Wonders FC host Karela United at the Swedru Sports Stadium, while Dreams FC face Nations FC at the Tuba Astro Turf.
By Raymond Ackumey
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Ghana coach Otto Addo may not command the kind of fear and respect like Pep Guardiola, Jose Mourinho, Carlo Ancelotti, Luis Enrique and others in the modern game, but in his small corner, he is gradually climbing the ladder to greatness in Ghana, Africa and the world at large.
The aforementioned coaches attained greatness with club sides and, therefore, open an argument over whether one is not comparing apples to oranges. But no matter how one looks at it, they are all coaches harbouring similar ambitions to attain greatness in their fields.
Otto Addo is one of the young and upcoming coaches holding a lot of promise and was getting experience with his association with Borussia Dortmund in Germany until his path was directed by a Ghana call.
Although he was born in Germany, Otto Addo’s association with Ghana football dates back to 1999, spanning a period of about seven years; commencing with a 5–0 rout of Eritrea on February 28. He gained international prominence when he joined the squad for the 2000 African Cup of Nations. He featured as a midfielder in the team for the 2006 FIFA World Cup.
But like it’s often said, a prophet is not recognised in his own home and his efforts partially went unnoticed. He’ll go into the annals as one of the Black Stars coaches to have been fairly or otherwise criticised not just by ‘football people’ but fans who doubted him.
His sack has been discussed at various platforms by people whose knowledge and tactical acumen about the game remains questionable. Ghana’s Minister for Sports and Recreation, Mr Kofi Adams, at one point openly stated his doubts over Otto Addo’s ability to actually deliver.
No coach would feel secured in such turbulent times, but coach Otto Addo kept his calm and composure. On the corridors of his employers, however, the Ghana Football Association (GFA) president, Kurt Okraku, openly rallied support for him, though a few ‘doubting Thomases’ still questioned his credentials.
That painted a picture of a people that forget easily and are quick to crucify. In a brief moment of adversity, Ghanaians forgot how Otto Addo was brought in to pluck qualification for the Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup from the jaws of the Super Eagles of Nigeria with a solitary goal over two legs.
The upshot of that feat was not one any Nigerian would want to remember. The scenes after the match were awfully chaotic, as fans vented their anger on facilities at the stadium. Back in Ghana, it was partying all night and day.
Otto Addo was labeled the football magician. He achieved something no Ghanaian coach had ever accomplished; a feat which Ghana with her all-time best teams could not attain. That was the climax to which Otto Addo took Ghana football, generating calls to start believing in the Ghanaian coach.
Following that to the World Cup proper was another story altogether. It was, or may have been, our poorest show at any of the four World Cup appearances. And just as it was stipulated in his contract, he bowed out after the Qatar World Cup to mind his Borussia Dortmund business with peace.
But as fate would have it, nature found a way to renew his romance with Ghana football after an unconvincing start to the America, Canada and Mexico dream World Cup under special advisor turned coach, Chris Hughton.
Ghana started the qualifiers on a winning note but not a convincing performance. It was saved by an Inaki Williams goal scored on the sixth minute of additional time against Madagascar at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium. The Black Stars then slumped to a 1-0 defeat at the Stade de Moroni to Comoros to heighten calls for a new technical direction.
Then stepped in Otto Addo when Ghana occupied the fourth position in Group I with three points but with the countries in the group evenly matched.
By Andrew Nortey
