Accra, April 20, GNA - Peter Assandoh, Technical Director of the Ghana Boxing Association (GBA) and trainer of Kpakpo Allotey, African Boxing Union (ABU) super featherweight champion has called on the authorities to provide him with some logistics to enable him to perform his duties efficiently.
In a petition to the Minister of Education, Youth and Sports which was copied to the GNA Sports, the coach said though he is capable of turning the fortunes of boxing around, he is constrained by lack of support and equipment from the powers that be and the situation is hampering his plans to improve the sport.
Assandoh said since his appointment, he has not been allocated an office, neither has he been provided with a means of communication nor a means of transport even though he is supposed to travel the length and breadth of the country to discover and groom talent.
He said in the face of Ghana's dwindling profile in amateur boxing, he was prepared to work with both amateur and professional boxers to "put the country back on track if I am given the necessary assistance." The coach lamented the non payment of his outstanding allowances of $1,050 (one thousand and fifty dollars) when he was on a refresher course in Italy last year, adding that his creditors in Italy are putting pressure on him to pay up his outstanding bills.
Tabulating what he could do to lift up boxing in the country, he said he has designed a training programme for boxers and would from time to time, organise courses for boxing coaches and seconds as well. Assandoh said he would also teach the correct type of physical training needed by boxers, anatomy in boxing, which will aid them to target the right places of the opponent in fights, and boxing methodology.
He said it is necessary for every boxer or coach to know something about sports medicine in relation to boxing and he would incorporate that and the correct dieting procedures in his coaching lessons. The coach asked the Ministry of Education Youth and Sports and the National Sports Council (NSC) to come to his aid by providing him with the necessary logistics to enable him to do his work and achieve positive results for the country.
"I would finally want to know whom I should contact for my monthly salary," Assandoh concluded.
