The General Captain of Team Ghana at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, Cpl. Suleimanu Tetteh has advised Ghanaian sports fans to be positive minded and show real love to sportsmen and women, than discourage them when they are going for major international assignments.

Speaking to Yours Truly in an exclusive interview after the Olympic Games, he expressed that majority of Ghanaians did not believe in them, but they believed in themselves and knew they will not return home empty handed as some of them are certainly going to come home with medals.

Suleimanu Tetteh who is also skipper of the Black Bombers noted that majority of Ghanaians are too negative and it reflects on the way they behave and their achievements.

“I was chosen by the Chef de Mission. Mr. Mike Aggrey as the General Captain and Flag Bearer on merit, because I am the most experienced athlete in the team, having been with the national boxing team for 11 years and taken part in many international tournaments including the 2012 London Olympic Games”.

According to Tetteh, he encourages and motivates the younger boxers like Samuel Takyi and Shakul Samed to be dedicated, disciplined and take their training very seriously.

He stressed that sports is sweet when glory comes, but the preparation and training is not easy.

“We train two or three times a day, and one has to be conditioned always, checking weights and avoiding some luxuries” he said.

The Ghana Prisons Service Officer thanked his employers for releasing him to perform for the nation.

He recalled that, he fought two times at the 2020 Games, unlike 2012 where he was beaten in the preliminaries, due to inexperience.

Tetteh said his opponents were not push overs, because every one who qualifies for Olympic Games is a champion in his of her own right.

He commended Bronze medalist Samuel Tetteh who has brought smiles on the faces of Ghanaians and honour to the nation. He also cautioned him to be focused and keep on training.

He also thanked the President of Ghana, Nana Akufo Addo for his counsel before they departed for the Games and hoped for an attractive bonus package to encourage them to improve upon their accomplishments, as the start preparations for Paris 2024.

He also thanked the leadership of the Ghana Olympic Committee (GOC), the Mayor and people of Inawashiro, Ghana Boxing Federation, the CDM, Yours Truly, the Medical Team, Ashfoam and Twellium industrial Company Ltd and all who supported Team Ghana, especially the Black Bombers.

Team Ghana will leave Tokyo on Thursday and arrive in Accra on Friday.

By Sammy Heywood Okine, Tokyo

Courtesy GOC Communications / Ashfoam / Twellium

Ghana’s Ambassador to Japan, H E Frank Okyere on Monday afternoon hosted Team Ghana to a delightful lunch at the Chancery of the Embassy in Tokyo.

The event was also to celebrate the Black Bomber, Samuel Takyi who won a bronze medal for the nation in the 57kg category and the just ended Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

The 20 years old boxer aka ‘Ring Warrior’ was given a heroic welcome with his colleagues, alongside coaches Dr. Ofori Asare and Vincent Akai Nettey.

Ambassador Okyere said he has been looking forward to see Team Ghana at the Chancery since they entered Japan, however Covid 19 restrictions prevented them, but he is happy that they made it in grand style by coming with precious medal.

He thanked the President of the Ghana Olympic Committee (GOC), Mr. Ben Nunoo Mensah and the Chef de Mission, Mr. Mike Aggrey for their briefings and unique leadership.

“On behalf of the Government and people of Ghana, staff of the Mission as well as Ghanaians across the globe, I wish to congratulate all of you for making Ghana proud at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. Special thanks to the management of the Team for ensuring that our team stayed focused and healthy during the period” he said.

H E Frank Okyere commended all the athletes for putting up their best performances to put Ghana on the medals table at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, an accomplishment that had eluded Ghana since 1992.

He expressed joy and pride for young Samuel Takyi on the podium at the Closing Ceremony, standing by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) President, Thomas Bach and representing Ghana and the African continent.

“You are our champion and we are proud of you. You brought honour to our motherland Ghana” he stressed.

He urged Takyi to train harder, and go for Gold in Paris 2024.

He tasked the athletes not to rest on their oars, but start preparations for the next Olympic Games in Paris, France.

He hoped his staff at the Mission displayed hospitality as they had a memorable stay in Japan, and wished the team a pleasant flight back home, advising them to follow the health and safety protocols wherever they may find themselves.

The GOC President added that this is the first time in 29 years that Ghana has won a medal at the Olympic Games, and 49 years since boxing gave the nation a medal at the world’s biggest sports festival.

He said Ghana was the only African country that had a medal in boxing at the 2020 Olympic Games.

The Director General of the National Sports Authority (NSA) , Professor Peter Twumasi stated that the government is committed to investing in sports as there are sports facilities being built all over the country.

In attendance were  Ms Abigail Quarshie, a Senior Consular, Mr. Kwame Aikins, Head of Chancery - both at the Ghana Embassy in Japan, Chef de Mission of Team Ghana Mr. Aggrey, Administrator Miss Farida Iddris, Covid Laison Officer Adamu, President of Ghana Judo Association Mr. Tetteh, President of the Ghana Boxing Federation Mr. Lamptey and Secretary General of the GOC Lawyer Sahnoon.

Sammy Heywood Okine, Tokyo

Courtesy GOC Communications / Ashfoam / Twellium

… urges the youth to take sports serious

Ghanaian born Bismark Boateng, who represented Canada at the 2020 Olympic Games has promised to support Ghanaian sportsmen.

Speaking with Yours Truly and the President of the Ghana Olympic Committee GOC at the Olympic Games Village, he urged sportsmen and women to take their careers very serious, and strive to do and be the best.

Boateng who shifted from football soccer to track and field (100 meters) said Canada has been very helpful to him and he feels cherished by the Canadians.

“Canada has done much for me, and am very grateful to them, but I still love Ghana because that is where I came from” he expressed.

He stated that they offer him all the necessary encouragement and facilities to excel, and advised Ghanaian sports authorities to do same.

According to the Olympian, sports can take the youth to many places and also make them popular.

Boateng who hinted that he will visit Ghana very soon as it is a long time since he saw his dad, and hopes to support Ghana when they host the African Games in 2023.

He commended Team Ghana for winning a bronze medal at the 2020 Olympic Games and hailed Samuel Takyi for his historic achievement.

The GOC President also blessed him to keep on shining in his chosen endeavour.

Present at the meeting with the international star was boxing coach Dr. Ofori Asare.

By Sammy Heywood Okine, Tokyo

Courtesy GOC Communications / Ashfoam / Twellium

Prince Amartey (in wheelchair) being accompanied to the inauguration ceremony by an army officer

Prince Amartey could not hide his emotions when essential support finally came last Thursday, as the Ghana Armed Forces commissioned and handed over to him a shop stocked with essential provisions to support the sustenance and wellbeing of the boxing legend who has been reduced to a destitute.

Looking frail and consigned to a wheelchair, the hero of Ghana’s 1972 Olympics campaign in Munich was given deserved honour in the presence of the military high command, family members and the boxing fraternity during the hour-long ceremony at the 66 Artillery Regiment in Ho.

Even though Amartey resigned from the Armed Forces as a Lance Corporal in 1974, high ranking military officers led by the Chief of the Defence Staff (CDS), Vice Admiral Seth Amoama, gave him a standing ovation and eulogised the 77-year-old as a national hero in his own right who deserved to be honoured for his services rendered to Ghana and the Armed Forces.

The commissioning of the shop was in fulfilment of a pledge by the Armed Forces following a petition to the CDS by the boxer’s family and benefactor, Maj. Amarkai Amarteifio (retd), to help rehabilitate the man who won bronze at the Munich Games but has fallen on hard times coupled with health challenges.

Since his exploits in Munich, it took Ghana 49 years before the nation won another Olympic medal in boxing. And last Thursday’s ceremony was historic in many ways as young boxer Samuel Takyi was decorated with a bronze medal at the Tokyo Games, ending the country’s five-decade search for another boxing hero at the Olympics.

Vice Admiral Amoama, who flew to Ho with top military officers purposely for the event, said that even though Amartey did not serve the mandatory 18 years in the Armed Forces to benefit from a pension, the institution deemed it a sense of responsibility to support the man who was once a “boxer par excellence and has paid his dues to Ghana and the Armed Forces”.

Maj. Amarteifio, who is the Board chairman of the Services Integrity Savings and Loans Limited (the banking outfit of the military), and was in charge of boxing in the Armed Forces when Amartey first represented Ghana in Munich, expressed his delight that the CDS did not hesitate to offer assistance after he led Amartey’s daughter to make an appeal for support when the former boxer’s plight was brought to his attention in the media.

Later, Amartey told the Daily Graphic that he felt a sense of fulfilment at the honour done him by the military high command at a time that Ghana had ended a 49-year Olympic boxing medal drought.

“I am very happy that I have been honoured at last after serving the army and Ghana. Today, I will sleep well because I know I have not been forgotten,” the two-time Olympian (he also participated in the 1968 Games in Mexico) told the Daily Graphic in a slurred voice.

Source – Graphic online.com

Ghana’s quartet was disqualified in the men’s 4x100 meters final, as Italy pulling off another spectacular outing to clinch gold.

But the quartet of Sean Safo-Antwi, Benjamin Azamati, Emmanuel Yeboah and Joseph Paul Amoah who finished 7th in a very fast final with a time of 38.40s are not sad, though disappointed.

They were looking out for a surprise victory, to shock the world but the last changeover caused them to be disqualified.

Captain Joseph Paul Amoah in an exclusive interview with Yours Truly said they are looking forward to the World Championship in Oregon which they have qualified to compete.

He said he was devastated, but in the relay anything can happen, and they feel content to take out the USA, so they are happy and hope to train harder and come back stronger.

“ We will go back to the drawing board, and come back better” he assured.

He also appealed to the sports authorities not to concentrate on only one sport, but support all sports who can make Ghana proud.

Ghanaians rallied behind their sprinters and had great hope of achieving the impossible, but they turned out to be disappointed.

Sean Safo-Antwi started the race in lane 2 and had to work hard to be in the race to catch up with the rest of pack. He gave the baton to Benjamin Azamati who recovered well and gave it to Emmanuel Yeboah who had it difficult in handing the baton to Joseph Paul Amoah for the anchor leg as he was being left behind.

Joe Paul finished the race, but Team Ghana was eventually disqualified because the final switchover happened outside the legal zone.

Italy, with the individual 100m champion Marcell Jacobs finished first, followed by Great Britain, while 200m champion, Andre De Grasse powered Canada to a 3rd place spot.

Jamaica finished 5th behind China who made it to fourth followed by Germany and Japan, who did not finish the race.

Coaches Julius Baba and Andrews Owusu said the quartet need to be commended because they were the only Africans in the final, and Ghana has not participated in the event since 1996.

Chef de Mission of Team Ghana, Mr. Michael Aggrey, who is President of Ghana Golf Association also commended the sprinters for representing Ghana and Africa on the biggest stage for sports.

By Sammy Heywood Okine, Tokyo

Courtesy GOC Communications / Ashfoam / Twellium

It was all joy on Thursday August 5, 2020 at the Games Village, Block SEA 7 where Team Ghana is based as they gathered to receive their Bronze Medalist, Samuel Takyi for making the nation proud after 29 years.

The 20 year old Samuel Takyi also equaled a 49 year old boxing record in boxing.

The reception was led by the President of the Ghana Olympic Committee (GOC), Mr. Ben Nunoo Mensah who danced his way with other members of Team Ghana.

Ms. Franca, from the Ministry of Youth & Sports also displayed her dancing skills with interpreter Seyram playing the Ghanaian drum.

The Team members took photos with the new Bronze winner to the admiration and amazement of other nationals at the Games Village.

President of the Ghana Boxing Federation (GBF), Mr. George Lamptey who was part of the victory parade said Takyi has has really done well and he is also very glad as his reign has seen Ghana winning medals for boxing at the 2019 African Games in Morocco, 2019 Olympic Qualification in Dakar, 2018 Commonwealth Games in Australia and now the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo.

By Sammy Heywood Okine, Tokyo

Courtesy GOC Communications / Ashfoam / Twellium

 Ghana’s Bronze medalist at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, Samuel Takyi aka ‘Ring Warrior’ has been commended by American Duke Ragan who took the Silver medal.

At the Press Conference after the presentation of medals to winners of the 57kg boxing, Yours Truly asked the American how he sees Takyi and he described him as a very good boxer with the potential of becoming a future Olympic Gold medalist.

He advised Takyi not to rush into professional boxing, but try to go to the next Games in Paris in 2024 and go for the Gold.

The professional boxer had it tough against Takyi in the Semi final duel which many ringside viewers felt the Ghanaian won, but the judges rules otherwise.

Takyi told the media he did not protest with his crossed hands, but that is the way he jubilates after fighting.

He thanked all Ghanaians for the support that earned him Ghana’s boxing medal after 49 years, and the only medal in all sports since 1992.

Takyi has been promised rewards by companies in Ghana as well as Erra, the Italian company that produced the kits for Team Ghana.

By Sammy Heywood Okine, Tokyo

Courtesy GOC Communications / Ashfoam / Twellium

Weightlifter Christian Amoah is now focusing on the 2022 Commonwealth Games after placing overall 12^th  position in his event at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.

The 22-year-old was fourth in his group in the men’s 96Kg in the weightlifting event at the Tokyo Olympic Games.

He is the second best on the African continent and currently positioned fourth in the Commonwealth.

He cleared the first round successfully, making the 140 snatch and 165 clean and jerk.

He has pleaded with corporate entities to support the less financed sports like weightlifting as with a little encouragement, they can win medals for the nation.

He thanked the President of the Ghana Olympic Committee (GOC) Ben Nunoo Mensah for his vision and support as well as the sponsors of Team Ghana at the 2020 Olympic Games.

Amoah who has left the Olympic Village and expected to be in Accra urged the remaining athletes to give off their best to give Ghana more medals.

He congratulated Samuel Takyi for making the 2020 Olympic Team proud by winning the Bronze medal in the featherweight boxing.

By Sammy Heywood Okine, Tokyo

Courtesy GOC Communications / Ashfoam / Twellium

Lamont Marcell Jacobs is the new men's Olympic 100m champion ©Getty Images

The Olympic men's 100 metres title, property since 2008 of Jamaican icon Usain Bolt, has now passed, most unexpectedly, to Lamont Marcell Jacobs, who clocked a European record of 9.80sec to complete an extraordinary Italian double following his team mate Gianmarco Tamberi's sharing of the men's high jump title.

Tamberi was on hand to embrace Jacobs soon after he crossed the line in, with silver going to Fred Kerley of the United States in a personal best of 9.84 and Canada's Andre De Grasse taking a second successive Olympic 100m bronze in a personal best of 9.89.

At the start of one of the great Olympic nights of competition Jacobs had lowered the European record to 9.84 in the third of the semi-finals, although that had only been enough to earn him a place in the final as a slowest loser.

He had followed home the two automatic qualifiers Su Bingtian of China and Ronnie Baker of the US, both of whom recorded 9.83.

Su got the verdict, in what was an Asian record, and for a couple of hours it seemed we might be about to witness the first Olympic men's 100m victory by an Asian sprinter.

But the powerful and compact Chinese athlete, despite striving desperately, could not make the same impact on the final and finished sixth in 9.98 as the man who came to wider notice earlier this year by taking the European indoor title rose to the greatest of athletic challenges.

Only six men finished the final as fourth place went to South Africa's Commonwealth Games champion Akani Simbine in 9.93 ahead of Baker, who clocked 9.95.

Nigeria's Enoch Adegoke pulled up 15m from the line and Britain's Zharnel Hughes was disqualified after a false start.

"I don’t know, it's a dream, a dream, it is fantastic," said Jacobs, who has an Italian mother and an African-American father and was born in El Paso in Texas, where he spent his first 18 months.

"Maybe tomorrow I can imagine what they are saying, but today it is incredible.

"It was my childhood dream to win an Olympics Games and obviously a dream can turn into something different, but to run this final and win it is a dream come true.”

Commenting on hugging Tamberi shortly after finishing his race, Jacobs added: "When I got to Gianmarco we support each other.

"We all know his story - he could have won in Rio but he had an injury, but being here together is something spectacular.

"I believe in him and believed in myself."

Kerley second place means there has been an American on the men's 100m podium at every Olympic since Sydney 2000m.

The man who has run 43.68 for the 400m but decided to concentrate on shorter sprints this year said: "I executed the race perfectly and I came up with a silver medal.

"I can't complain.

"The race was a beautiful race.

"I got a PB [personal best] and a silver medal.

"I am blessed to be at the biggest stage of my career."

Asked what he knew about Jacobs, who before 2021 had not broken the 10-second barried, Kerley responded: "I really didn't know anything about him.

"It was my first time racing him at the Monaco Diamond League [in July].

"Here he did a fantastic job."

By Mike Rowbottom

Ghana’s only medalist at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games has commended the Mayor Hiroshi Zongo and people of Inawashiro for their luck and support that has been behind Ghana during the Olympic Games in Japan.

He said the entire Black Bombers are grateful for the love shown to them.

According to Takyi, the environment, accommodation, food and training facilities really helped him, and his confidence to win a medal was enhanced by the serene atmosphere in Inawashiro.

“Since we arrived in Inawashiro and moved to Tokyo, I have been dreaming of a medal, and I thank God for what he has done in my life.

I want to thank the President of Ghana Nana Addo, GOC President Ben Nunoo Mensah, President of the GBF George Lamptey and the Sports Minister as well as the Ambassador to Japan Frank Okyere for their inspiring words” he expressed.

He also acknowledged the medical doctors of Team Ghana for guiding and ensuring his fitness.

By Sammy Heywood Okine, Tokyo

Courtesy GOC Communications / Ashfoam / Twellium