The
Ghana Judo Association (GJA) had been working round the clock to participate in
the up coming 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland and put up a
remarkable performance that would be remembered.
Although
Judo had been dropped sometimes in
previuos competitions, the President of the Association says this time they are
going to bring home medals.
Emmanuel
Tetteh, President of the GJA said their main challenge is funding, especially
when it comes to international travel, but this time they have been favoured
and they are going to put up their very best.
“We do not have a huge financial backbone, so most
of the time our judokas help themselves by trying to land in Europe or Asia
with their own funds and when they excel outside, they find it difficult to
come back home. We have very good judokas like Emmanuel Nartey, but they are
competing outside to earn something for themselves, because the support is not
big at home” He said.
The
President of the GJA was grateful to the Ministry of Youth & Sports and the
National Sports Authority (NSA) for funding a seminar to teach judokas the
latest trends in scoring and fighting.
Ezekiel
Tetteh, Coach of the national team said it is very good that the government has
looked at the plight of Judo and now wants to help.
He
called on the Minister of Youth and Sports to consider the inclusion of Judo as
a major sport in Ghana because the judokas are serious and want to win glory
for themselves and the nation.
Esther
Amuah, an official of the Association thanked the Ministry and the Sports
Authority and promised that Judo will be one of the medal winners at this
year’s Commonwealth Games.
