After watching and attending the Boxing championship on going in Chicago, I did observe that our boys are over-weight in the original classes they use to fight in so the officials forced them to shed weight to make the weight. By so doing, these kids are being starved from eating but once a day and stopped from having fun of the tournament and the love of the games.
Rules of the tournament did not preclude the fighters to change the weight categories they originally registered to fight in a different class if they are over weight. By being forced to shed their weight, the boxers become tired and loose stamina during the fight.
The Captain of the team, Bastie Samir , has been disqualified because he is over weight in his class but could have been made to move up to fight in a higher division instead of a lay-off. This aside, the boys must be brought to the venue the fight is taking place like the other nations to observe the new techniques and technologies being used for scoring as well as to learn.
Instead, they have been kept in the hotel with the flimsy excuse of “they are resting”, resting for what? All other participants are out there in the Pavilion cheering and/or rooting for their compatriots as well as learning and familiarizing themselves to the ongoing proceedings which might help them one way or the other.
It was amusing as well as astonishing to see Awusone Yekeni, the Heavy Boxer, terribly and visibly tired after the bout whilst his opponent appear strong after the four rounds bout.
Samir Issah who fought on October 24 2007 was just clinching without throwing the needed punches to win points. In the new scoring system, you need to be aggressive and throw punches to get a score. What was the Coach doing? Whilst the Coach was visibly advising them to clinch, their opponents were busy throwing punches and scoring points. Next time Ghana's team participates in a tournament, we should be technically adept not bankrupt. The world is moving at a fast pace technologically and we should be abreast with it. The “lets wait and see” attitude in the Ghanaian must be stopped, we have the man power home and abroad if called upon could help. It is old fashion in this 21st century in sports not to utilize technology to advance your chances of winning.
Many Ghanaians in Chicago did not respond because here in Chicago, everyone works and those who do not work go to school. Even the self-employed like the Taxi drivers need to adjust their schedule to accommodate the time. The Community needs to know the time but pressed as they could, all they get was 2 to 3 hours for a game time. You cannot get Ghanaians to respond to that kind of time frame. Some members of the community who showed up at 3:00 P.M for a bout yesterday were astonished to learn at the venue that the bout will come off at 7:00 P.M.
The problem is, the leaders of the delegation has to leave the hotel and visit the boxing arena to get time for the Ghanaians and pass it on instead of staying at the hotel waiting for some sort of walk-in with information which is malignant.
Ghana is a great Boxing Country, thanks for the exploits of Floyd Klutei Robertson, D.K Poison, Azuma Nelson, Oblitey Commey,Ike Quartey and others but it is humiliating to see their works replaced with a mediocre performance due to official misjudgments or miscalculation.
