A yr of hopes and setbacks
2024 has been a difficult yr for Ghana boxing, regardless of beginning with excessive expectations. The nation clinched seven medals, together with gold, on the 2023 African Games within the first quarter, however issues went downhill from there.
For the primary time in over 20 years, Ghana had no illustration in boxing on the Olympics, highlighting the game’s persevering with struggles. Experts imagine the nation, which produced legends like Clement Quartey and Azumah Nelson, is just not addressing basic points.
Samuel Takyi, Ghana’s final Olympic medalist, factors to an absence of correct look after nationwide athletes as a serious drawback. “I felt bad that Ghana didn’t have representatives at the Olympics, but there are a lot of issues with the national team. They don’t take good care of the athletes, so I chose to go professional,” he defined.
This development of boxers abandoning the beginner stage for skilled careers is rising. Stanley Nyantakyi, “The Ashanti Warrior,” remembers enduring robust occasions as an beginner. “I didn’t get opportunities at that stage, so I turned pro to achieve my goals,” he stated.
Coach Ofori Asare, a revered determine in Ghanaian boxing, advocates higher help for beginner boxers. He notes that the dearth of monetary incentives throughout competitions, akin to Olympic qualifiers, forces younger athletes to hunt higher alternatives. “Previously, amateur boxers received payments during competitions, which helped support their families. Now, there’s no pay, leaving them with no choice but to go professional,” he defined.
Boxers like Nyantakyi and Takyi emphasize the monetary challenges on the beginner stage. Nyantakyi remembers juggling coaching with a job as a safety guard incomes GHS 500 a month, whereas Takyi argues that nationwide staff athletes needs to be well-compensated. “If you represent your country and make the people proud, you deserve to be rich,” Takyi asserted.
With the 2026 Commonwealth Games approaching, it’s as much as stakeholders to handle these challenges and encourage the following technology of Ghanaian boxers.
