GBA to institute special boxing coaching course

Accra Sept. 28 GNA - The Ghana Boxing Authority (GBA) would soon institute a full scale regular boxing trainer's course for all categories of trainers and licensees at the Sports College of the University Education, Winneba.

The initiative is to ensure the availability of competent and qualified boxing coaches to train young and up coming boxers for the country.

Mr. Moses Foh-Amoaning Chairman of the GBA said this when he unveiled the Authorty's vision for the 2006/7 boxing season during the celebrations of the National Men Only Boxing Awards and Heroes Night held on Thursday.

He said that the GBA will also seek to deepen its relationship with international sanctioning bodies such as the World Boxing Council (WBC), the International Boxing Federation (IBF), the World Boxing Union (WBU) and the International Boxing Organisation (IBO) to ensure that Ghanaian boxers are rated and given the needed opportunities to fight for world titles

Mr. Foh-Amoaning said 93as a way of actualizing these dreams, the GBA has already put in a bid to host the WBC Board of Governors Meeting in Accra, adding that he was hopeful that the bid will have the support of the ministry=94 while expressing the hope that the WBC will confer on Ghana the right to host the event.

The GBA Chairman also expressed the hope that the Ministry of Education, Science and Sports will honour its promise of providing each of the new stadiums under construction and renovation with a modern gym for boxing and other indoor sporting disciplines.

Mr Talal Fattal, Chief Executive Officer of the Metropolitan Entertainment Television (METRO TV), the official television sponsors of the GBA boxing league, dubbed 93Men Only Boxing Championship=94, expressed his delight at sponsoring the event.

He said that sponsoring of sporting events forms part of the company's mission statement, which reads 93Dedicated to the sports development in Ghana.=94

The Chief Executive assured the GBA of the station's continuous support for the success of the event. Ten different awards were conferred on individuals and organization for their roles in the sport in 2005.

Ike Bazooka Quartey, former World Welterweight champion received the Roy Ankrah Best Boxer Award, the Best Men Only Boxer award went to young Albert Mensah with the D. K Poison Award (Most Outstanding Performer) going to Joshua Clottey and Raymond Narh, former National and West Africa Super Featherweight champion now based in the United States of America.

The Floyd Klutei Robertson Award for the Most Promising Boxer went to Lartei Lartey, the Samir Captan Award for the Best Promoter went to Ambition Boxing Promotion Syndicate.

The rest are the Ring Craft Award for the Best Manager went to Obric Sala Promotion, The J.A. Annan Award for Best Referee 96 Bob Sackey with the Andrews Martey Award for Best Judge going to J. B. Osaabutey, Lartey Quaye took up the Atu Quaye Clottey Award for Best Trainer whilst the Nii Quaye Mensah Award for Dedication and Valour went to Ike Quartey and his trainer Oko Odamten.

Three personalities received the Heroes Awards, they include the late Justice Daniel Francis Annan, former Chairman of the GBA for his role in the promotion of boxing in the country, John Allotei Coffie and Samir Captan (Promoter-hene) as the three special ward recipients.