Ghanaian boxer Amadu Mohammed aka ‘Moni Cater’ lost (0-5) to his opponent, Makhmud Sabyrkhan from Kazakhstan at the IBA World Boxing Championship in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, thus failed to progress on to the semifinals (Medal zone) also known as the money zone.

Before, Mohammed has defeated George Molwantwa of Botswana via a split decision to qualify for the quarter finals of Bantamweight action at the 2023 IBA world championships ongoing in Uzbekistan.

With the latest result, it means and no Ghanaian boxer reached the medal zone, but Coach Ofori Asare says it was a good exercise and exposure for the boxers so that they will see and know what is happening and how they will train harder if they want to win medals at the 2024 Olympic Games.

By Sammy Heywood Okine

President of the Ghana Karate Do Federation (GKF), Mr. Nathaniel Johnson has launched the 24^th Edition of the National Championship at the Media Center of the Accra Sports Stadium.

He expressed that every thing is new under his administration and they are going to host a memorable and grand event on May 20th and 21st at the DG Hathiramani Sports Hall.

He noted that his administration is standing on six key pillars to make Karate Do one of the most popular sports disciplines in Ghana, and named them as unity, records keeping, management systems, development programmes, training programmes, promotion of the sport in educational institutions and creating employment for practitioners.

He said Karate Do is a very disciplined sport which can reduce crime and violence in the country if people are trained on self defence.

Mr. Kwabena Afriyie Poku, Technical Director of the GKF told the media there are many benefits of Karate Do that make one physically, morally, mentally tough and fearless.

Mr. George Slater Commodore, Administrative Manager of the GKF briefed on how the event would be held involving juniors, cadets and senior karatekas including females. He said winners will get medals and other prizes.

Two top karatekas, Sensei Edmund Amoako and Germain Vowotor performed a demonstration of Katas to the admiration of the media and guests present at the launch.

By Sammy Heywood Okine

The Media Launch of Ghana’s participation in the 2023 UCI World Championship in Glasgow, Scotland has taken place at the Accra Sports Stadium on Wednesday.

Mr. Shaaban Mohammed, Chef de Mission of Ghana and General Secretary of the Ghana Cycling Federation (GCF) said preparations have reached an advanced stage and Ghana will be taking part in six out of the 19 events namely; Cycloball, Paracycling, BMX Free Style, Road Race, Track Race and Tam Trial.

He said 8,000 cyclists from 177 countries are expected to take part in the 11 days of non stop competitive action which starts from August 3^rd to 13^th.

According to Mr. Mohammed who is chairman of the African Cycling Commission as well as Operations Manager at the Ghana Olympic Committee (GOC), this is the first time such a programme is coming up and the UCI, which Ghana joined in 2007 is excited about the participation and media coverage.

Mr. Shaaban Mohammed, a former cyclist and technical director of the GCF, now the Secretary General expressed that five of the events are qualifiers for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, and he expects Ghana to qualify, however the nation’s strength is in the Para Cycling, especially the Tandem.

He called on the media to promote the UCI Championship which will test Ghana’s cyclists as they also prepare for the 13^th African Games to be hosted in Ghana.

“Our experience in Glasgow should inspire us to win medals when Ghana hosts the African Games” he said.

Mr. Shaban hinted that Ghana is hoping to send some traditional leaders to Glasgow to portray the rich culture of the nation.

He thanked the Sports Writers Association of Ghana (SWAG) for naming Cycling as one of the top five sports disciplines at the last Awards Ceremony.

Mr. Abraham Sarberg Antwi CEO of ASA Plus Destinations, a travel and tour company who are sponsoring the GCF said they love promoting the lesser known sports and are also ready to support the federation, cyclists and media to make Glasgow 2023 a memorable event.

He commended Ghana Gas and NLA for supporting their previous events and prayed that they will assistant Team Ghana at the World Cycling Championship.

By Sammy Heywood Okine

Head Trainer / Coach of the Bronx Boxing Gym has defended the need for boxers to have managers to cushion them as the train to become champions or realise their boxing dreams.

Speaking to Your Truly in an exclusive interview after Kurrency Boxing Management has signed three boxers from his gym, he expressed that boxers really need managers to support them administratively, financially, morally and spiritually while he takes care of the technical aspect.

He noted that a boxer can not survive without a manager because the job is difficult and not only one or two people can make a champion.

He stressed that boxers need a manager, publicist, medical doctor, nutritionist, legal advisor and a support base to cheer him or her up.

“Boxing is very hard, so we need someone to cushion us, if you have a manager and you do not perform then it is up to you” he added.

Coach Lokko who is a board member of the Ghana Boxing Authority (GBA) said boxing is not an easy task, so when they win, they must enjoy the glory, fortune and fame, but it takes a lot of sacrifice on the road every morning and in the gym hitting and punching the bags pads and even the air in shadow boxing.

He thanked all the personalities who have taken Bronx boxers like Daniel Gorsh, Emmanuel Quartey, Isaac Nunoo, John Laryea and recently, the trio by Kurrency Super Featherweight Daniel Quaye aka High Tension, Lightweight Stephen Cofie and Super Featherweight Issifu Illiasu Sulley, described as the most hardworking boxer who comes to training early and last to leave.

He rated new African WBO champion, John Laryea as a serious boxer who can become a world champion if he maintains or increases his determination and seriousness.

“At Bronx, we teach the boxers many things, not only the craft in the ring but how to live outside the ring, how to talk to the media and how to behave in town and at home” he expressed.

Coach Lokko who has seen it all from the grassroots to the world level is very optimistic that his boxers will become bigger champions soon.

Currently he has champions like Daniel Gorsh the National Super Bantamweight Champion, Jacob Dickson the National Cruiserweight Champion, Sheriff Quaye the WBO Africa Lightweight Champion, Felix Ajom, National and Pan African Super Featherweight Champion and Jacob Tetteh Laryea, the new West African Super Welterweight Champion.

“Beyond the sky is our target and so we keep on training and fighting till we reach the moon, so we are training, training is sacrificing, as no one can make it for you, unless you yourself” he said.

By Sammy Heywood Okine

The Management of the Ghana Karate-Do Federation extends compliments to the media and members of the Karate Do family.

The GKF deems it appropriate and with great pleasure to invite the GKF fraternity to the 24th Edition National Karate Championship - 2023 Media Launch on 10th May, 2023 at the Media Centre, Accra Sports Stadium at 10:00am.

The GKF anticipate to hold a modest but extravaganza event, and requests the media to charm the event with their presence.

The GKF gratefully seeks the presence and support of the media in promoting and advertising Ghana Karate Do.

By Sammy Heywood Okine

May 9 2023:  Remembrance March For May 9 Stadium Disaster Victims

Theme for 2023 - Changing Lives

Families of the victims of the May 9 stadium disaster and the physically challenged community

This year’s May 9 memorial events in Ghana witnessed participation from families and their children who received support for surgeries on their hole-in-heart disease. The formerly sick children benefited from cash donations between $6000-$14000 from the Shen Yang and Shen Yuet Children’s Heart Foundation, who have pledged to pay for the high cost of treating some children in Ghana with a hole in heart disease for the next 10 years.

The Chinese charity foundation is named after 17-year-old Shen Yang, a hole-in-heart survivor and his brother, both sons of Chinese investor Shen Yan Chang, the founder and chairman of the SUNDA & KEDA International Group of Companies operating in Ghana.

It's always a day of sadness and joy for me. Sadness at what happened to so many but happiness when we meet as a family. We must help brother and sister when we can and the price of bringing happiness surpasses everything!

Herbert Mensah

The Black Bombers of Ghana are experiencing mixed fortunes at the World Championship in Tashkent-Uzbekistan.

Flyweight, Theophilus Kpakpo Allotey unfortunately lost (1-4) to his experienced Zambian & Africa No.1 Peter Chinyemba at the ongoing 2023

But Amadu Mohammed knocked out Rejeki Manalu of Indonesia in round 2 at the ongoing IBA world championships to keep Ghana in the line up for a medal.

The Bantamweight prodigy who is the current best at his weight category in the nation outpointed his more experienced opponent George Motwallan from Botswana to progress on to the Quarterfinals.

By Sammy Heywood Okine

The Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) has adopted the Accra Inter-City Homowo Marathon (AIHM) as part of activities marking the 125th Anniversary Celebrations of the Assembly.

Mrs. Elizabeth Sackey Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of AMA announced this when he met the organisers of the event at her office last week.

Mrs. Sackey said they were impressed with the organization of the maiden edition last year, hence the decision to adopt the event, which also forms part of activities celebrating the Homowo festival of the Gas.

She said the 125 anniversary of the AMA is a year long plan and the race would be incorporated into the list of activities for the anniversary.

According to Mrs. Sackey they would provide the organizers with the necessary support to hold a successful event.

Mr. Henri Senyo Penni General Manager of Medivents Consult - organisers of the event expressed appreciation to the AMA for the support and the decision to adopt the event as part of the historic 125th Anniversary celebrations.

He said they were delighted with the support provided in the last race and looking forward to having more support from the city authority.

The Accra Inter-City Homowo Marathon is part of activities marking the annual Homowo festival.

It is fixed for Saturday, July 29, from the Accra Sports Stadium through to some principal streets and end at the Mantse Agbona, James Town.

After a successful take off in the maiden edition, the organisers have decided to introduce 10 and 5 Kilomters categories in addition to the flagship 21-Kilometers.

Source Willie Ezah

The World Muay Thai Grand Prix will take place at the KITEC STAR HALL in Hong Kong on May 9, 2023. Gates open at 6pm while bouts begin at 7pm.

Fees to be charged for entry are $12,000 for Premium Table for 10, $8,000 for VIP Table for 10, $400 for Dress Circle and $250 for Balcony.

The fighters involved in the Show of the Night, World Super 4 Championship include Ghana’s Gerald Dah. He fights Lamin Souayah, Khambakhadov and Lombardo.

Speaking to Yours Truly before the fight Gerald Dah asked Ghanaians to pray for him to win the ultimate prize.

He said Muay Thai is a very interesting sport which should be promoted frequently in Ghana and Africa.

He commended the media for playing their role in supporting the practitioners, and called for promotions.

By Sammy Heywood Okine

Raphael Botsyo Nkegbe, Ghana’s leading para athlete says he wants to leave a great legacy in sports and for sports authorities to always consider disabled sportsmen and women who often win medals for the nation.

Botsyo Nkegbe who is in the United States of America USA is preparing for his international assignments especially the upcoming African Para Games which Ghana is going to host and wants his family and friends want to witness.

According to him, another most important issue is to gain qualification for Paris 2024 Paralympics Games which is his main target.

Raphael Botsyo Nkegbe said “I feel so excited for my first event of the year which came on, the 7th of May, in the United States Spokane Washington, the 12 km road race. I was able to defend my gold medal I won in the Master's division last year. I came fast this year once again in the Masters open division with a time of 36:45s. I might say it's a good start after I left Ghana on the 4th of May this all form part of my preparation towards my truck meets in Arizona on 24th to 28th of May.

My big thanks go to my host family who are in Spokane, Mr and Mrs Jonathan Brown, the Sports Equity lab and National Sports Authority (NSA) for all the support they have provided for me for my coming here to the States for these events” he expressed.

By Sammy Heywood Okine