Josh Buatsi (left) with Mayweather at Rio
Once again, Team Ghana has returned from yet another Olympics (Rio) woefully empty-handed and sadly; as usual, this failure could only be attributed to poor planning and lack of visionary leadership.
If the leadership had been farsighted enough, they could have realized that it is only boxing which since Ghana’s first participation in the Olympics that has yielded medals as against the one medal won by the Black Meteors in Barcelona.
We could have adhered to the age-tested theory of comparative advantage and prioritize preparation of the boxing team initiated by Ambassador Ray Quarcoo during his tenure as Ghana Boxing Federation’s President.
The visionary that he is, Ambassador Quarcoo in his quest to building a world standard team, succeeded in bringing down some young talents from the United Kingdom before leaving office; that included Josh Buatsi, a Bronze medalist in the light heavyweight division at the just-ended Rio Olympics fighting under the British flag.
His exploits, which has gained international recognition and honour for Britain could have gone for the crest-fallen Team Ghana. Joshua Buatsi won his first two fights with KOs.
And now he has been tipped for the very top of the sport by the man considered the best pound-for-pound fighter of his generation. Floyd Mayweather has told the Brit boxer who rocked Rio with his devastating knockouts that he will be a world champion. Mayweather, who was in Brazil watching the Games, was blown away by Buatsi’s capability for destruction.
Buatsi, said Mayweather told him that: “I have heard about you before I got to Rio and that you are a great fighter, a future world champion”.
Working as Communication Secretary for the Ambassador Quarcoo-led administration of the Ghana Boxing Federation, I was privy to almost all correspondences both internal and external; including financial records.
When preparing for the Glasgow Commonwealth Games, Ambassador Ray Quarcoo, then the President of Boxing Federation; not so enthused by the standard of the Black Bombers; contacted one of his associates, Mr.Amoo Bediako, a London-based Ghanaian boxing coach and owner of a leading boxing gym in the UK, who recommended Ohara Davies, Joshua Buakyi, Isaac Dogboe, Norris Akwei Thompson and Amoo Bediako (Jnr) as good materials.
All these young talents were flown in by the Goodwill Sports Ambassador, who single-handedly borne the cost for their air tickets, internal transportation, boarding and lodging whilst they were in Accra to join the Black Bombers for the Commonwealth Games.
For his disassociation with the federation, under some uncanny circumstances, his detractors who finally succeeded him were not up to task and virtually lack the experience and resources; and for that matter could not be able to secure the services of these young talents for the nation; at a time when they are mostly needed.
It is very sad that we failed to tap all these talents thus reducing our chances for medals at Rio.
A couple of months ago, boxing fans at the Accra Sports Stadium were thrilled with master ringcraft, accurate punching (uppercuts, combinations, crosses etc.); a splendid display of boxing artistry by Isaac “The Royal Storm” Dogboe; who happens to be one of those talents and now turned professional.
Looking at his impressive fight record of 14-0-9 Kos since joining the paid ranks, I have no doubt Dogboe could have been a medal hopeful for Ghana at Rio. Ambassador Ray Quarcoo you are vindicated.
