With only three months for the Beijing Olympics, there are still signs that portends danger for Ghana as the United Boxing Coaches Association of Ghana (UBCAG) are threatening to withdraw their boxers if the current Chairman of the Ghana Amateur Boxing Association, Solomon Ofei Darko remains at post.
The association is issuing this threat in the wake of the delayed start of a training camp for the games, unpaid bonuses from two Olympic qualifiers among other things.
In an interview with the Graphic Sports, Coach Believer (Abdul Rasheed Williams), General Secretary of UCBAG accused Mr Ofei Darko of only being interested in travelling and presiding over the downward turn of the sport in the country.
According to Believer, his association has, on several occasions, invited Mr Ofei Darko for meetings but he has never responded. “Before the Bombers went to the All Africa Games, we met with the Chief Executive of the National Sports Council (NSC)Prince Oduro-Mensah and Mr Darko and the former advised us to settle our problems ammicably. But he has never responded to any of our invitations,” he alleged.
Believer said it was unacceptable that the GAABA boss was still at post when the bonuses from the Algeria and Namibia Olympic Qualifiers are yet to be paid coupled with the fact that the boxers are not in serious training ahead of the Games.
“Since he assumed office he has never visited any of the gyms to know how the boxers are progressing. When the Bombers Coach, Roberto Chavez, sustained injuries from an accident he never visited him at the hospital. He did same to Matthew Nandoli, who sustained a head injury at the team’s makeshift training camp at the Fire Service Training School,” Believer further alleged.
The UBCAG Secretary also challenged GAABA to account for all monies paid by the organisers of the Men Only Boxing League for amateur fights.
“The GABA is reaping the benefits of the work of its predecessors especially, Mr Eddy Duplan who produced this current crop of Black Bombers members.
The likes of Mr Ray Quarcoo and Col. Sharp also set very high standards which Ofei Darko has not lived up to. Even Mr Gideon Quartey who has no sponsorship is running a successful amateur league for the Greater Accra Region. Since Ofei Darko assumed office he has not organised one competition,” he said.
But in his reaction, Mr Ofei Darko described the allegations as ‘total rubbish’ accusing the association of only being interested in money.
According to him, the UBCAG President Coach Alloway (Godwin Dzanie Kotey) was made a member of GABA so that his outfit can also contribute to running the sport but unfortunately he does not communicate well with GABA.
“I am not responsible for paying bonuses. It is the responsibility of the sector ministry and the NSC. For their information, we the officials who accompanied the team to the Algeria qualifiers are yet to receive our bonuses. My duty is to put pressure on these two bodies to pay the money which I have been doing constantly”.
On the issue of visiting the gyms, he said, there is a technical committee within GABA that does all of that and reports to him.
Mr Ofei Darko accused the coaches of only being interested in their share of the boxers bonuses saying “I have not received any official letter from them inviting me for any meeting. Withdrawing the boxers will not only affect the nation but the boxers themselves.”
He told this reporter that he was appointed by the government and has performed well over his tenure in office. “As a Technical Officer of AIBA I have always fought for Ghana’s interest and that has ensured our qualification for the Olympic Games. My good performance has even been lauded by the President of the Ghana Olympic Committee (GOC) Mr B.T. Baba,” he added.
When this reporter reached Mr Oduro Mensah to comment on the issue of unpaid bonuses last Tuesday, he declined saying he was travelling outside the country and was not in a position to talk.
Story by Nathaniel Attoh
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