Tokyo 2020 bronze medalist, Samuel Takyi says he is very determined to go to another Olympic Games in Paris, France after winning gold in the super lightweight division of the 13^th African Games in Accra.

Speaking to Yours Truly, the Accra based Ashanti born pugilist promised to qualify in the last world qualifies opportunity in Thailand.

“The mission is on, we went to Tokyo and it was me who made Ghana and Africa proud, I want to change the colour of the medal from bronze to gold” he stressed.

Samuel Takyi, skipper of the Black Bombers of Ghana said he wants to fulfill his dream to be an Olympic gold medalist as the African Games has motivated him.

He was chosen by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to represent African sportsmen and women at the Tokyo Olympic Games where he was the only African to win a medal in boxing. Actually he was the only medalist for Ghana at the Games.

He tried to enter the paid ranks and won bouts in Nigeria, South Africa and Accra, but returned to fight for his nation to win gold in the 13th African Games which was one of his ambitions after the Olympic Games, a promise he made to the sports minister and people of Ghana.

By Sammy Heywood Okine                  

There is a saying that he who laughs last laughs best, and that was exactly what Team Ghana did on the final day before the closing ceremony at the 13^th African Games held in Accra, Ghana.

Many people described it as a Fantastic Friday and it was a really great day for Ghana Sports as the nation won gold in Women’s Hockey, gold in Men’s Football by the Black Satellites, gold in the 200 meters by Joe Paul Amoah, gold in High Jump by Cadman Evans and four gold medals in Boxing by Mohammed Aryeetey, Joseph Commey, Amadu Mohammed and Samuel Takyi the Ring Warrior.

On that same day Ghana won silver in Men’s Hockey and silver in Boxing by Abu Kamoko, son of legendary Braima Kamoko aka Bukom Banku.

The day before on Thursday, the Black Princesses had grabbed gold in Women’s Football.

Egypt started well winning Table Tennis, Swimming and other disciplines, but Ghana proved that they are also a force by winning more precious medals on the last day.

The fans who trooped to the Accra Sports Stadium to support the Black Satellites really proved that after all Ghana Football is still alive and if the right things and right players who are willing to perform are selected, there will be more success and victory.

They fans showed real love and they must be appreciated and congratulated just like the young footballers.

By Sammy Heywood Okine

Coach Dr. Ofori Asare, head trainer of the Black Bombers, the national boxing team says he is gratified with the performance of his boxers as they were able to win four gold, one silver and two bronze medals to add to the tally of Team Ghana at the 13^th African Games.

Speaking to journalists at the Bukom Boxing Arena after Abu Kamoko has missed his gold and got the silver, the celebrated boxing trainer and founder of the Wisdom Boxing Gym said the boxer was not fully fit but had to go into the ring to raise the flag of mother Ghana and he gave fans a good fight.

According to Coach Asare Kamoko complained of having problems with some parts of his body and the medics attended to him, while it was his first major tournament joining the national team for the first time a compared to the other medalists.

He said Abu Kamoko gave a good account of himself and can do better in the future despite improving upon his dad (Braima Kamoko aka Bukom Banku) who was a bronze medalist at the All African Games in South Africa.

The Ghanaian boxers in the finals dished out fantastic display on Friday to climax the 13th African Games.

Out of 16 representatives entered by the Ghana Boxing Federation (GBF), nine could not reach the medal zone, however Mohammed Aryeetey (Minimumweight - 48Kg), Amadu Mohammed (Bantamweight - 54Kg), Joseph Commey (Lightweight - 60Kg) and Samuel Takyi (Light Welterweight -63.5Kg) won gold.

Abubakar Kamoko (Cruiserweight - 86Kg) took a silver, while Janet Acquah (Minimum weight - 48Kg) and Theophilus Allotey (Flyweight - 51kg) went home with bronze medals.

Unfortunately, Abdul Walid Omar, Alfred Kotey, Henry Malm, Abdul Baki Adam Jonathan Tetteh and Daniel Plange missed the podium just like the Black Hitters (female boxers) Ramatu Quaye, Adelaide Djabartey and Sarah Apew.

The President of the Ghana Olympic Committee (GOC), Mr. Ben Nunoo Mensah sent his best wishes to boxers and urged them to train harder to qualify for Paris 2024, naming potentials like Samuel Takyi, Mohammed Aryeetey, Amadu Mohammed and Joseph Commey.

Coach Carl Lokko of the Bronx Boxing Gym was at the Arena and also hailed the medalists for raising the flag of Ghana and ensuring that the national anthem is played.

Coach Lokko who is Vice President of the United Coaches Association of Ghana said the future is still bright, but advised the sports authorities to invest and motivate sportsmen and women to perform better in subsequent events.

Ms. Sarah Lotus Asare, a boxing match maker and WBC Cares rep in Africa said Coach Asare has shamed the devil by his recent achievement. The daughter of the celebrated trainer said “We are very happy, we shall go home and sleep well after many sleepless nights, we give praise and thanks to the Almighty”.

Mr. Ernest Danso, the Chef Du Mission (CDM) of Team Ghana was at the Arena to inspire the boxers. He assured them of their per diems and winning bonuses.

Gold medalists will get $3,000, silver medalists will collect $2,000 while bronze medal winners will be rich by $1,000.

By Sammy Heywood Okine

Mr. Frank Boahene, the Fulham trained pitch maintenance expert and CEO of Green Grace Technology (GGT) says there is no problem for the National Sports Authority (NSA), managers of Accra Sports Stadium to rent the facility out for other activities aside football or sporting events.

Speaking to Yours Truly in an exclusive interview, he said although the main purpose of building the stadium was for football or sports in general, it can be used for entertainment and political rallies and church conventions.

He expressed that the pitch can be brought back into top shape if the managers are willing and ready to pay for the maintenance fees.

Mr. Boahene who is working on the Accra Hearts of Oak pitch at Pobiman said he had to rent for an accommodation at the area to get close and achieve results.

Also in charge of the renovation of the Accra Sports Stadium for the 13th African Games, football, he expressed that after 14 matches, it is good to said congratulations to his staff who have been committed and dedicated to ensure that Ghana delivers.

He thanked the NSA and Local Organising Committee LOC of the 13th African Games for giving him the contract to serve his nation.

He said the stadium can be used for any activity or program, however there must be funds available to put it back to shape and also give it some cosmetics to look beautiful and appealing.

He commended the Black Satellites for reaching the final and urged them to play their hearts out to beat Ugandan counterparts.

Mr. Boahene advised the sports authorities to make funds available for maintenance.

He was responsible for the Cape Coast Stadium which hosted the 13th African Games Women's football competition and 12 training pitches.

By Sammy Heywood Okine

Nigeria won the overall team title with eight gold medals and two silvers, equalling_ Kenya’s historic feat at the 1987 African Games in Nairobi

Algeria finished second followed by Ghana, DRC, Zambia and defending champions Morocco sixth.

Dominant Nigerian boxers won the African Games boxing tournament with an astonishing eight gold medals and two silvers as the curtain came down to the fiercely contested show at Bukom Boxing Arena in Accra, Ghana.

It was the best ever performance by the Nigerians in the African Games, emerging overall winners for the third time after winning in 1973 in Lagos and 2003 in Abuja.

The excited Nigerians are definitely in cloud nine for their superb performance which deserves a token of appreciation from the generous government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

By winning eight gold medals, Nigeria equalled Kenya’s feat of scooping the same number of gold medals at the 1987 African Games in Nairobi. Nigeria also set a new record of 10 boxers qualifying for the finals of the African Games boxing tournament. Well done national coach Tony Konyegewachie for a job well done.

Light-flyweight Zainabu Adeshina, beaten by Algeria’s Roumaysa Boualam and bantamweight Shukurat Kareem, who was defeated 5-0 by Morocco’s entertainer Widad Bertal, were the only two Nigerian losers in the finals.

The eight gold medallists: featherweight Joy Ojo Nene, men’s featherweight Dolapo Omole, middleweight Patricia Mbata, heavyweight Adams Olaore, lightweight Cynthia Ogunsemilore, light-middleweight Blessing Oraekwe, light-heavyweight Jacinta Umunnakwe and I super-heavyweight Ifeanyi Onyekwere.

Defending champions Morocco 2-2-3, whose two gold medallists were world heavyweight champion Khadija Mardi and Africa bantamweight champion Widad Bertal, dropped to sixth position with their arch-rivals Algeria 4-2-5 having the last laugh in the North Africa supremacy battle by finishing second followed by Ghana 4-1-2, DR Congo 2-5-4 and Zambia 2-3-2 in fifth position. Flyweight Patrick Chinyemba and welterweight Gerald Kabinda won Zambia’s two gold medals while lightweight Andrew Chilata, bantamweight Mwengo Mwale and light-welterweight Emmanuel Katema return home with silver medals.

Ghana may have put up their best ever performance in the African Games boxing tournament but failing to win the overall title for the first time was a bitter pill to swallow. Ghana’s four gold medallists were minimumweight Mohammed Aryeetey, bantamweight Amadu Mohammed, lightweight Joseph Commey and light-welterweight Samuel Takyi with cruiserweight Abubakar Kamoko settling for silver and two bronze medals from minimumweight Janet Acquah and flyweight Theo Allotey.

Mozambique glamour girls, light-middleweight Alicinda Dos Santos and middleweight Rady Gramane – both double Africa champions – were this time demoted by Nigerian boxers to silver and bronze medals respectively having dominated the African events for the last three years. Take heart champs. You win some and lose some. All the three Mozambique finalists lost. Featherweight Armando Sigauque was beaten by Nigeria’s Dolapo Omole and welterweight Isabel Mulungo defeated by Ethiopia’s Betel Wolde Dedi.Mozambique 0-3-1 finished 9th and South Africa 0-1-1 took the 12th position.

In a battle of southpaws, Alcinda suffered a shocking points defeat to aggressive and colourful Blessings Oraekwe and Gramane was silenced by London-based Patricia Mbata in the semi-finals.

Kudos to Ethiopia 2-0-0 and Kenya 1-0-1 for their notable performance with the Horn of Africa country winning two gold medals to finish seventh followed by eighth-placed Kenya on one gold and a bronze.

Sensational flyweight Getelhem Gayiza won flyweight gold by outpointing Morocco’s more experienced Rabab Cheddar and Gete Wolde Dedi clinched welterweight gold.

Our salute to Kenya Defence Forces soldier, Edwin Okong’o, for putting a smile on the faces of success-starved Kenyan boxing fans and ending East Africa’s 17-year gold medal drought in the African Games by outpointing Morocco’s Yassine Elouarz in the finals. Cheers to female bantamweight bronze medallist Amina Martha for your courage and determination. We wish you quick recovery following a right shoulder injury in semi-final bout against Nigeria’s Shukurat Kareem.

With Kenya the top East African country in Accra, their neighbours Tanzania and Uganda placed joint 15th position each winning three bronze medals though ring analysts felt Tanzania’s light-heavyweight Yusuf Changalawe should have won his semi-final bout against DR Congo’s Pita Kabeji. Tanzania’s other two bronze medals came from lightweight Ezra Paul and cruiserweight Musa Maregesi while Uganda got theirs from minimumweight Innocent Tumusiime, featherweight Kassim Murungi and light-middleweight Muzamir Semuddu.

Tunisia 0-2-5 and Egypt 0-2-2 are used to finish among the top countries but this time around they’ve slumped to 10th and 11th positions without a single gold medal.

On a lighter note, I had to use my binoculars to locate my Southern Africa friends Botswana on the medals table.

They’re anchored at the bottom of the table with a bronze by featherweight Keamogetse Kenosi who was the defending champion. Botswana is however not alone at the bottom as they have the warm company of Mauritius, Cameroon and Liberia, each one of them with a bronze like Botswana.

Take heart. Something is better than nothing at all. In any case Botswana did very well in 2019 by finishing second behind overall winners Morocco. Unfair officiating in bouts involving bantamweight George Molwantwa and flyweight Rajab Otukile Mahomed cannot go unnoticed.

For those countries which did not win medals, remain inspired with the Olympic motto: participation is more important than winning medals. Encouragingly, some of you also hooked up with your buddies after a long time. That’s the joy of the African Games. Remain inspired as we now turn our focus to the inaugural Mandela Boxing Cup tournament scheduled for April 15 -21 in Durban, South Africa.

The triumphant Nigerian boxers with AFBC President Eyassu Berhanu (fourth from left) pose for a group photo after their memorable achievement in Accra, winning eight gold medals and two silvers.

Source AFBC Communications

The national Boxing team gave fans something to cheer about at the packed with tight security Bukom Boxing Arena on Thursday night when four boxers fought their way to the finals of the on going 13th African Games.

Ghana entered 16 representatives, but nine could not reach the medal zone.

The amazing and sensational finalists who are going for either gold or silver on Friday, March 22, 2024 are:

1. Mohammed Aryeetey (Minimumweight -48Kg)
2. Amadu Mohammed (Bantamweight -54Kg)
3. Joseph Commey (Lightweight -60Kg)
4. Samuel Takyi (Light Welterweight -63.5Kg)
5. Abubakar Kamoko (Cruiserweight -86Kg)

Two boxers are going for bronze. They are  Janet Acquah (Minimum weight -48Kg), the first Ghanaian assured of a medal at the African Games women's boxing competition and darling boy  Theophilus Allotey(Flyweight -51kg) who had a rough night on Thursday.

Sadly Black Hitters (female) and Black Bombers (male) who could not win medals include Ramatu Quaye, Adelaide Djabartey, Sarah Apew, Abdul Walid Omar, Alfred Kotey, Henry Malm, Abdul Baki Adam Jonathan Tetteh and Daniel Plange.

The performance and grading of the medal hopefuls will certainly improve Ghana's standing on the medals table.

Friends of Boxing (FOB) have sent congratulatory message to the team, and wished those going to the finals all the best.

The President of the Ghana Olympic Committee, Mr. Ben Nunoo Mensah has also sent his best wishes to the qualified boxers. He urged them to go all out and make themselves, their families and the nation proud.

Coach Carl Lokko of the Bronx Boxing Gym commended for fans for comporting themselves at the fight venue.

He said the 13 African Games Boxing competition is a wake up call for all amateur trainers to know the current rules and regulations of IBA and educate the boxers and supporters.

Coach Lokko who is Vice President of the United Coaches Association of Ghana is confident and very optimistic that the future is very bright, however other nations are investing massive into sports and wants Ghana also to invest and motivate the boxers.

By Sammy Heywood Okine

Picture shows James Thompson, organiser of the  Willie Williams Athletics and Rose Yeboah

Sports Philanthropist Dr Caesar has congratulated Rose Amoanimaa Yeboah for winning the Women’s High Jump event at the 13^th African Games.

Rose Amoanimaa Yeboah who is the current World Universities High Jump Champion as well as winner of the 12th African Games in Morocco retained her position at the new look University of Ghana, Legon Stadium by jumping a height of 1.90m to win the gold medal.

Dr. Caesar has been with Rose Amoanimaa Yeboah since her SHS days at Kumasi Girls Senior High School, and sponsored her to complete Kumasi Girls Senior High School.

Dr. Caesar inspired Rose to love Track & Field and that has pushed her to her current status.

He once predicted that, Rose was going to win the African Games, win an Olympic Games medal as well as a World medal for Ghana and his prophecy is coming to pass.

Solomon Hammond, a discovery of the great Willie Williams Athletics Championship was also on the tracks at Legon and performed in the 100 meters by four alongside Ben Azamati, Edwin Gadayi and Joe Paul Amoah.

By Sammy Heywood Okine

Emmanuel Tufuor aka ‘Koora’ has been presented with a Certificate of Appreciation from the Ghana Cycling Federation for supporting the organisation of events at Ablekuma Olebu and Pokuase Road for the 13^th African Games.

the presentation was made by the Chairman of the LOC for Accra 2023, Dr. Kwaku Ofosu Asare who commended the efforts of Koora with his experience to ensure that some disciplines like Cycling which is an Olympic event was organized well.

Lawyer Saahnon Mohammeed, President of the Ghana Cycling Association said they were faced with many challenges but they were able to over all the obstacles to produce a memorable event.

Former athlete Emmanuel Tuffour, a member of the National Sports Authority (NSA) Board and the LOC for the 13^th African Games supervised and ensured that the Cycling Association were on track in the organization of races, protocols and presentation of medals.

Miss Elizabeth Alhassan Gyamfi, a young female journalist and Mr. Mohammed Bashir, Secretary General of African Cycling Federation were also honoured for contributing immensely to the success of the cycling competitions at the Accra 2023.

The citations were presented by Mr. Mohammed Shabaan, General Secretary of Ghana Cycling Association.

A number of local and international media men acknowledged the hard work of Ms. Alhassan Gyamfi, a National Service personnel at the Ghana Olympic Committee (GOC).

By Sammy Heywood Okine  

Young talented dancer Tris Naomi Amorkor Tagoe from Chorkor finally granted educational scholarship to continue her education after 3 years of dropping out at the final year in High School.

The ABA educational Scholarship Support Fund of the Break It All Project was created to financially support young people , creatives and dance athletes who needs the push for further educational  to discover their full potential.

Director of Africa Breaking Academy Nana Tuffour Okai confess his motivation of setting up an impeccable scholarship system for young talents which “ He emphasized on the importance of education to all individuals irrespective of the  Gender. Education plays a critical role in the development process of every successful individual and it has been his passion to contribute to help young talents to discover their full potential. He calls on individuals and organizations to join support ABA on this course.

Tris Naomi Amorkor aspires to be a medical doctor in the future so she can give back to poor communities with limited access to quality health care. Her dream was cut short when she dropped out of school due to some unforeseen circumstances related to travelling. The Africa Breaking Academy Educational Scholarship Fund has afforded her the opportunity to reignite and Pursue her dream of becoming a medical Doctor alongside her passion for break-dance.

Africa Breaking Academy is a Non Profit Organization that utilizes Dancesport and Hip Hop Culture as a tool to educate, empower talents in underserved communities in Ghana and Africa as a Whole.

ABA Educational scholarship was launched in March, 2024 to give street children and young talent the right to education as a way of promoting Sustainable Development Goal SDGs number 4 and 5.

Source ABA

… Ghana 100 x 4 capitulates to Nigeria at Legon

Top hurdler, Tobi Amusan came to #AfricaGames2023, saw and conquered the 100m hurdles gold in a time of 12.89 seconds. and within one hour led Nigeria’s strong ladies to beat Liberia and Ghana to win the much anticipated 100x 4 relay in 43.05 seconds.

She was very lucky to earn a yellow card over a false start in the 110 meters hurdles which gave her country people hope and zeal to win.

Third placed Ghana’s women’s 4x100 relay team made up of Hor Halutie, Benedicta Kwartemaa, Janet Mensah and Mary Boakye were in the good picture and also took a lap of honour for their display as it is not easy to grab a medal at such a high level competition.

In the men’s race, it was as usual hot, but Nigeria stole the show to make it a double, in a photo finish and it was a sweet revenge to beat their bitterest rivals in Accra. The Nigerians registered 38.41 seconds and Ghana comprising Edwin Gadayi, Ben Azamati, Solomon Hammond and Joe Paul Amoah made 38.43 seconds.

When Nigeria hosted the last time, Ghana spoiled their celebration. For Liberia who placed third, they have showed that they are coming and coming with charming beauty and fire power.

Indeed the Legon Stadium was the place to be if you are a Nigerian, They swept all the short distance races including the 400 meters.

Over seasons, Chidi Anthony Okezie has been trying his best to be an African champion.

Since 2016 in Durban when he started representing Nigeria, the best he had done on the continent was win a Bronze medal.

His day in the sun finally came at Accra 2023, and he grasped it with both hands, powering his way to his first ever individual gold medal.

By Sammy Heywood Okine