National boxers to pay for residential accommodation, NSA orders

kwame

February 8, 2016 10:30 AM

NSA has ordered Black Bombers, the national boxing team to play for their accommodation at the national hockey stadium in Accra

In what can best be described as the most bizarre news to surface in connection with Ghana’s preparations towards Rio 2016, the National Sports Authority has ordered the national boxing team, the Black Bombers, to pay for their residential accommodation at the national hockey stadium in Accra.

According to the Public Relations Officer of the NSA, Fredericka Mensah Davies, the move has become necessary because the NSA is yet to receive its budgetary allocation for sports this year, leaving it in a difficult situation to cater for the cost of accommodating the national team.

Asked by TV3 news anchor, Nana Kwaku Aduah, who looked visibly shocked at the NSA’s action, why her outfit could take such a decision knowing that the boxers are preparing towards the Olympics, Fredericka Mensah Davies stuck to her guns

The NSA’s PRO justified her outfit’s demand by claiming the NSA is not in a situation to cater for the utility bills and sanitary provisions for the boxers during their stay at the facility.

The directive by the NSA could have a negative impact on the “Black Bombers’ team who only recently moved into residential accommodation after an initial non-residential phase of training.

The residential camping has become important as the team readies for the upcoming African Rio 2016 qualifier in Yaoundé, Cameroon in March.

The latest development comes after the Director General of the NSA Joe Kpenge last Friday told the Graphic Sports that Ghana might pull out of the Olympic Games if his outfit does not receive financial assistance from government and corporate organisations in the shortest possible time to facilitate preparations.

Mr Kpenge made the disclosure in an interview with the Graphic Sports last Wednesday as he reacted to complaints by officials of some national federations that their activities, especially participation in the qualifiers for the Rio games, had been stalled by financial constraint.

The NSA and National Sports Federations are traditionally responsible for preparing and sponsoring Ghana’s national teams for the Olympic Games including sending them to Olympic qualifiers.

It is however very strange that the NSA will ask national team boxers preparing for an international assignment to pay for their residential accommodation.

Meanwhile, only one Ghanaian athlete, 800m runner Alex Amankwah, has qualified for Rio 2016. A Ghana Olympic Committee sponsored Taekwondo team is currently in Agadir, Morocco for the African Rio 2016 qualifier.

Credit: liquidsportsghana.com

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