Ghana Gives Pass Mark

The Ghanaian contingent to the just concluded AAAC/IAAF Region II Athletics meet has given the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) a pass mark for the successful hosting of the championship.

In a chat with P.M.Sport at the National Stadium during the closing ceremony of the three-day meet, the head of the Ghanaian delegation to the championship, Mr. William Kofi, praised the AFN for organising an hitch-free championship despite limited resources at the federation's disposal. "Your AFN did a good job. I am surprised they were able to organise a championship of this magnitude so successfully with just $ 20,000 from AAAC. As you know, $20,000 is just too small. How they were able to do it surprised me," he said.

Williams, who is currently with the Kwame Nkrumah University in Ghana also commended the drivers attached to their vehicles. He said they did a marvellous job of helping them navigate the chaotic traffic with relative ease. He, however, berated some officials for attempting to aid some Nigerian athletes during the championship. On the whole, coach williams said that this year's edition of the championship is the best he has witnessed in the last 10 years. Meanwhile, the Ghanaian contingent to the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester, England will commence training tours for the games in January 2002. This revelation was made by Mr. Ema Cherway, the Secretary-General of the Ghana Athletics Federation in a chat with P.M.Sport at the National Stadium.

Mr. Cherway said the association has already drawn up a programme for both the Commonwealth Games and the All-Africa Games in 2003. According to him, the association will be organising clinics, training tours, invitation competitions and will be also sending athletes to international competitions to get them sufficiently prepared for the games. Mr. Cherway also said Ghanaian athletes will be camped somewhere in Europe at least a month before the Commonwealth Games to enable them acclimatize.

The Ghanaian contingent to the Region II championship finished second behind Nigeria with 8 gold, 6 silver and 4 bronze medals.