Put media spotlight on lesser known sports - Asantehene

Otumfuo Osei Tutu 11, Asantehene, has urged sports journalists to put a spotlight on the lesser known sporting disciplines to help promote and develop these.

They should do more to highlight the challenges and barriers to cycling, swimming, martial arts, athletics, rugby and the others.

He said these needed to be given equal attention as football if Ghana was to make strong showing in international sporting events.

Otumfuo Osei Tutu was addressing officials of the Sports Writers Association of Ghana (SWAG) and the State Insurance Company (SIC) Company Limited when they jointly paid a courtesy call on him at his Manhyia Palace in Kumasi.

They were there to invite the King to this year’s SIC Nyemitei SWAG Cup match to be played by Ashgold and Asante Kotoko at the Baba Yara Stadium, on November 29.

At stake is a brand new trophy to replace the existing one which had been used for over a decade.

Started in 1972, the Cup match is played to honour the memory of the late H.P. Nyemitei, a former chief patron of SWAG, and onetime Deputy Managing Director of SIC.

Otumfuo Osei Tutu encouraged the newly-elected SWAG officials to work hard to champion the cause of the sports journalist.

Mr. Kwabena Yeboah, the SWAG President, said they were doing everything to strengthen the Nyemitei Cup competition to assist put clubs in good shape before the league starts.

Mr. Mark Ofosu Ampadu, an official of SIC, spoke of the determination of the Company to support sports development.

The Company donated a cheque for GH¢10,000.00 to the Otumfuo Educational Fund and presented a GH¢500,000.00 Personal Accident Insurance Policy cover to the Asantehene.