Kickboxing jump confirms arrival date

Accra, May 29, GNA - Enoch Effah, Ghana born French World Kickboxing Heavyweight champion on Thursday confirmed his arrival date to the land of his birth.

In an e-mail sent to GNA Sports, the world champion said he had concluded all arrangements to arrive Ghana on Monday, June 2 as had earlier been announced.

He said he was very anxious to visit home as a world champion in a sport which had just been introduced to Ghana and hoped his visit would give kick-boxing a new awareness that would make it a leading sporting discipline in the country.

Meanwhile Dr. Chris Kpodar, coordinator of Effah's homecoming programme said he and other members of the planning committee were working round the clock to put finishing touches to arrangements to ensure that the champion's schedule was not disrupted.

He said he had arranged with the National Supporters Groups to create a carnival atmosphere at the airport and accompany the kickboxing king in a float through the principal streets of Accra. The coordinator said the Franco-Ghanaian would visit boxing gyms and receive an award from the kickboxing fraternity in Ghana, while a gym would be named after him.

He said an elaborate reception had been planned for him at the French Embassy after which he would depart to the Ashanti Region to visit the Asantehene and pay respect to him. Dr Kpodar appealed to corporate organizations, particularly the French Companies which have not yet identified with the programme to do so, adding that though Effah was of Ghanaian parentage, he flies the flag of France when he fights and was likely to win a gold medal for them during the Beijing Olympics.