The novelty juvenile boxing roaming gym initiative backed by incoming Ghanaian airline, Goldstar Airlines and run by Accra based Will Power Boxing Gym got off to a huge success on Sunday evening with twenty (20) talented youngsters selected for immediate training towards an eventual professional career.
A huge crowd filled the roaming gym mounted at the James Town Roundabout right in the heart of Ghana’s boxing hub, Bukom to cheer on a number of young boys aged between 12 and 16 years as the initiative to identify young talent all over the regions of Ghana began much to the satisfaction of the sponsors.
“We are very delighted to have begun this development project today, everybody who was today can see how talented fighters these boys are. The people have also shown massive support and we are overwhelmed by the number of people who showed up today,” Eric Bannerman, CEO of Seasons Travel and Tours who also own Goldstar Airlines said.
Despite still awaiting Ghanaian aviation authorities' inspection and approval of their flight equipment to begin work, Goldstar Airlines have left no one in doubt of their commitment to social corporate responsibility by investing in this boxing talent hunt project as well as staff of the indigenous airline setting up the Goldstar Unite fund to construct boreholes for deprived communities across the country.
"We will do more for Ghana sports and indeed the general populace when we finally start work. The airline is Ghanaian owned so it's Ghanaians who will benefit the most. We want to show that Ghanaians can also run an airline," Mr. Bannerman said.
"Our only problem now is the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority who have to inspect our equipment and give us approval to begin work. We are appealing to even President Mahama to call on them to go and inspect our flight equipment and authorise us," the GoldStar Airline chief said.
"We are pleading with the President to use his good offices to encourage the GCAA to go and inspect our equipment so that they can give us the license to begin work. The cost of travel to the USA by GCAA inspectors and Goldstar Airlines officials as well as the license fee is about $30,000 and we are ready to pay,” Mr. Bannerman added.
Next on the juvenile boxing talent hunt itinerary is Gbese, also within the Bukom suburbs next Sunday as the nationwide enterprise hits full gear, expected to continue every Sunday with big dreams lined up for the young boxers who eventually get selected, the 20 at James Town being the first to be enrolled thus.
“We have big plans for those selected, we’ve just started but look at the numbers of good boxers we saw here today. As we’ve already said, Goldstar Airlines will support them all the way to realize their potentials, we’ll take the very best to Cuba, UK and the USA for further training,” Mr. Bannerman told Allsports.com.gh.
Napoleon Tagoe, owner and chief trainer at the Will Power Boxing Gym is heading the talent hunt which will travel across six scheduled venues in Accra before hitting other regions in the months to come.
Top dignitaries [resent to back the commencement of the unique talent hunt were Nii Appiah, kingmaker of James Town, Nii Senpa XI (another kingmaker), Nicholas Quaye who is technical director of Will Power Boxing Gym as well as world rated boxer, Albert Mensah, supervisor of Will Power boxing gym.
