Member of Parliament for Ablekuma South, Hon. Okoe Vanderpuije on behalf of his constituents on Saturday promised to give 10,000ghc to the national boxing team,  Black Bombers towards their preparation for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

This was after the coach of the Black Bombers, Dr. Ofori Asare had appealed to Ghanaians to support the team at the Euroka Boxing Promotion to celebrate the May Day.

Hon. Okoe Vanderpuije who is a boxing fan said his example must be emulated by others for the Bombers to feel loved to go all out to sacrifice and win glory for Ghana.

In another development, Dr, Henry Manly-Spain, First Vice President of the Ghana Boxing Authority (GBA) has also promised a special package for the boxers and their coaches.

By Sammy Heywood Okine

After the quartet of Benjamin Azamati, Safo-Antwi, Joseph Paul-Amoah and Joseph Manu simultaneously secured Ghana a place at Tokyo 2020 and the World Athletic Championship in Oregon, USA, it was a disappointing end to their weekend after their disqualification from the tournament.

The 4x100m relay team initially finished third in their heat behind Brazil and South Africa with a time of 39.11s but minutes after the race and time confirmations, drama ensued as Brazil and Ghana were disqualified.

Ghana’s team was disqualified after breaking changeover rules. The final changeover took place outside the authorized zone.

Ghana’s disqualification came as a result of a late changeover – Rule TR 24.7 between the pair of Azamati and Joseph Manu.

In the process, it means South Africa, Italy, Japan and Denmark were the only four out of eight competing teams to record times in the men’s 4x100m.

On a slightly brighter side, the decision is subject to an appeal from team Ghana.

Talented Ghana forward Mohammed Kudus has won the Dutch Eredivisie title with giants Ajax Amsterdam in his debut season with the side.

Last summer, the Black Stars asset joined Ajax in an exciting move that saw him end his stay in Denmark where he had become a household name in the Superliga after outstanding performances for FC Nordsjaelland.

After playing his part for Ajax in the 2020/2021 Eredivisie season, Mohammed Kudus is now joining his teammates in wild celebrations after amassing the needed points to be crowned champions.

The youngster was in action for his team when they hosted FC Emmen at the Johan Cruijff Arena.

Courtesy of goals from Jurriën Timber, Sébastien Haller, Devyne Rensch, and Davy Klaassen, Ajax cruised to an emphatic 4-0 win against the opponent while sealing the Eredivisie title.

This season, Kudus Mohammed has featured in 14 matches for Ajax and has two goals and three assists to his name.

Winning the 35th league title means that the Ghana star and his teammates will get to play in the Uefa Champions League next season.

Ghana men’s 4x100m Relay team qualify for Tokyo Olympics after placing second in heats of World Relays

Ghana’s 4x100m Men’s Relay team have booked their place at this summer’s Olympic Games after they finished second in Heat 1 to make to the final of the World Relay championships currently ongoing in Poland.

The team, comprising Sean Safo-Antwi, Benjamin Azamati, Joseph Manu and Joseph Paul Amoah, put up a spirited performance to cross the finish line in 38.79s, same time as first placed the Netherlands, who win by 8000th of a second.

The final berth means the quartet have qualified for this summer Olympic Games scheduled to take place in Tokyo in July this year.

Ghana’s team comprised three of the four men who won gold at the 2019 Africa Games in Rabat, with the only change being the curve runner in Martin Owusu-Antwi, who place was taken by Coppin State University’s Joseph Manu.

Running in Lane 7, Safo-Antwi set the team on its way with a strong first leg and National Record holder Azamati absolutely destroyed the back straight, just like he did in Rabat. Manu held his own around the bend before handing over to Paul Amoah, who was behind the Dutch by at least 15m.

But he showed the top end speed that has revered him to many athletics fans to catch up with his Dutch compatriot right on the line. Both finished with the same time but Ghana were adjudged to be second by 8000th or a second, or the size of a needle thread.

The women meanwhile, missed out after finishing 3rd in their heat.

Source - Citi Sports

…Promises to build Boxing Academy

Dr. Henry Manly- Spain, the First Vice President of the Ghana Boxing Authority (GBA) has offered the three members of the Black Bombers who are going to represent Ghana at the Tokyo Olympic Games some inspiration to come back home with medals.

The ace boxing enthusiast who is vying for the top position in Ghana Boxing said the professional body must always have an eye on the amateurs as the have to be catered for by the government, but supported and encouraged by others to become better boxers and ultimately world champions.

He said there is big hope that the three boxers will excel and give Ghana the much needed Olympic medals.

He promised by be in Tokyo to support the Black Bomber if the opportunity avails itself.

Dr. Manly - Spain disclosed that one of his plans for Ghana Boxing is to build a Boxing Academy where selected young best boxers would be housed and groomed.

The GBA will hold an elective Congress on July 22, 2021 and Dr. Manly - Spain has been tipped to take over from Lawyer Peter Zwennes who decided not to go for another term. 

By Sammy Heywood Okine

Fans of Super Lightweight boxer Faisal Abubakar, the crowd puller were left disenchanted after Gabriel Cofie had given him a noble contest at the Lebanon House at Tudu on Saturday night.

Cofie came in as the underdog, but never gave Abubakar who lost his first fight any respect as he boxed marvelously through eight rounds to win on the cards of the referees.

Coach Carl Lokko of the Bronx Gym said his ward, also known as ‘Poncho’ might have been affected by the 20 days Ramadan fasting he undertook.

For Coach Zico, it was another opportunity to see some of his boxing prospects, and called for more promotions.

In the main bout of the night, Eliasu Sulley became the new West Africa and National Super Middleweight champion when he knocked out Mawuli Folivi in the eighth round.

He was decorated with the WABU Belt by Hon. Alfred Okoe Vanderpuije, MP for Ablekuma South Constituency, supported by Alhaji Tofik, the new WABU Vice President and Nii Odaa Wulu 1.

World rated Jessie Manyo Plange who is preparing for a world title shot thrilled fans in an exhibition fight.

Michael Osuman Osuna defeated Francis Mensah, Daniel Gorsh knocked out Samuel Aryee in round two in their Bantamweight clash. Osumanu Haruna also knocked out John Dugu in a Heavyweight contest.

Super Flyweight Joseph Akai Nettey from the Charles Quartey Foundation Gym won over Thomas Quansah, as well as Ezekiel Annan who beat Emmanuel Sackey, while Eric Korley also won against Kofi Ataga in a Bantamweight contest.

Cruiserweight Jacob Dickson put up a polished display to be among the winners of the ‘May Day Akotoku Night’ which was staged by Euroka Boxing Promotions.

By Sammy Heywood Okine

The national boxing team, Black Bombers have raised the tempo of their preparations to the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games to a different level as they have moved into residential camping at the Golden Beach Resort under strict monitoring and evaluation by the Ghana Boxing Federation.

They now train at the Bukom Boxing Arena inside the Trust Sports Emporium two times in a day, one in the morning and second in the evening at 3:00pm. The other major consideration is that of the safety of the boxers and their controlled movement to stop any possible covid-19 infections.

Captain Suleman Tetteh a flyweight and 2012 Olympian is very happy that they have moved to camp.

Featherweight Samuel Takyi also said it is good that they are now in a different frame of mind and setting meaning time for the Games is getting near,  while Shakul Samir a light heavyweight thinks they are set for a surprise.

Samir who was the last of them to qualify did so, on a global ranking system which was informed by his bronze medal-winning performance at the African Games.

Should he step into a ring to fight, Shakul will seal the status of the family as having three Olympians. His two elder brothers Bastie and Issah Samir are both 2008 Olympians from the Beijing Games.

There are two more boxers hoping to make it to the games when the final rankings are released. Female boxer, Dr. Ornella Sathoud, a specialist in analytical chemistry hoping to be Ghana’s first female to make it to the Olympics and Jessie Lartey a 2018 Commonwealth Games bronze medalist.

Ghana’s Amateur boxing team the Black Bombers and other qualified athletes will spend four weeks in Japan’s Eastern Pacific Coastal city of Inawashiro before starting their campaign in the Tokyo Olympics Games.

By Sammy Heywood Okine

The May Day Akotoku Boxing Show by Euroka Promotion is coming up at the Lebanon House at Tudu in Accra with 15 tough bouts on Saturday May 1^st 2021.

All the boxers had their Covid - 19 tests and weighed in today, Friday at The Gym, under the supervision of the Ghana Boxing Authority.

Present at the weigh in were officials like Messrs Referee Shadrack Acquaye, Roger Barnor, Yoofi Boham, Laud Acquaye, Patrick  Johnson, Coach Carl Lokko, Coach Lartey, Michael Patterson, Yours Truly and others including the media.

Match Maker Rasheed Williams has advised all boxers and coaches to be on time as the programme will start at 5pm.

Excitement has already started with debates from the fans and the boxers have had the chance to blow their horns.

Now all is set with MP for Ablekumah South, Hon. Alfred Okoe Vanderpuije as the special guest.

The event will feature Mawuli Folivi taking on Eliasu Sulley for the National and West Africa Super Middleweight Championship.

Former Black Bomber, Musa Lawson will face Collison Korley for the National Super Welterweight title.

Other stimulating pairings will see world rated Jessie Manyo Plange against experienced Raymond Commey in a Bantamweight clash, Sheriff Seidu versus Enoch Lamptey in a Super Featherweight contest and Osumanu Haruna against John Dugu in a Heavyweight duel.

Abram Afful will meet Moses Lartey in a Welterweight contest, and Michael Osumanu Osunla against Cudjoe Darah in a Middleweight clash.

Richard Fenyi will face Odartey Lamptey in a Lightweight fray as Dan Gorsh meets Kofi Atanga in a Bantamweight contest.

John Koudeha from Togo will meet Ghana’s Niamou Aziz Samson, while Abdul Ali clashes with Francis Mensah.

Rates for the event is 50ghc for Ringside and 20ghc for the Popular Stand. Tickets will be available at the gates.

By Sammy Heywood Okine

Kasoa based Division two club Cheetah FC has set another history in Ghana Football by becoming the first division two football club to secure a partnership with Bel-Aqua as their official water sponsor.

The founder and bankroller of the Cheetah FC Mr. Abdul Hayye Yartey is known for his branding skills was highly enthused during the signing as he praised Bel-Aqua.

He further spoke on how expensive it is to manage football clubs in Ghana from camping to future signings.

He, therefore, encouraged other corporate entities to look up to Bel-Aqua and come to the aid of football clubs in Ghana.

Bel-Aqua signed the one-year partnership deal to support cheetah FC with 12,000 bottles of Bel-Aqua and Active water a year.

"We are excited to have Bel-Aqua on board. This is great news for Division two football, division two because it doesn't normally happen to see big brands sponsor clubs at the grass-roots level. But Bel-Aqua has changed the status quo. We hope this partnership goes well for Bel-Aqua to even extend it to 10 more years".

He, therefore, used the platform to call on other cooperate bodies to emulate Bel-Aqua to come on board because it's not easy to run to a football club in Ghana.

Cheetah FC under the watch of Mr Yartey has witnessed various modification

The Club can boast of producing Players like Black Stars winger Christian Atsu, Emmanuel Toku, among other renowned footballers plying their trade outside the country.

From Sammy Heywood Okine