Martey wins Gold at Africa Junior Championship

Accra, Aug. 27, GNA - Robert Martey, a 19-year old long jumper in the junior athletics division, has said lack of proper facilities and competitions account for the country's poor performance in sports in the country.

He told the GNA sports this after he had shown a gold medal he won at this year's sixth African Athletics Junior Championship held in Cameroon to Mr Emmanuel Owusu-Ansah, Acting Chief Executive of the National Sports Council on Tuesday.

'We don't have enough facilities, that is why we are not able to match up with our colleagues who are based outside'.

Martey said even though he jumped a distance of 7.29 metres to snatch the medal his personal best is 7.60 metres adding he will work had to improve upon it to become one of the world's best.

The 19 year old who had just completed his Senior Secondary School education was optimistic that when given the necessary help, he would win laurels for the country as his first appearance in an international competition has won him a medal.

He said even though there are good athletes out there the authorities do not have confidence in them adding that he nearly lost the chance to participate in the competition had his coach not insisted and appealed to the authorities that he was medal hopeful.

Coach Albert Nukpezah who accompanied the two athletes decried the poor state of facilities in the country, which is not auguring well for Ghana sports.

He added that they even had to borrow running vests from other competitors since Ghana did not have any.

Coach Nukpezah said 35 countries took part in the competition with Ghana being represented by Martey and Boakye in sprinting. Mr Owusu Ansah congratulated Martey for winning the award and urged him to work hard to improve on his current performance.

Meanwhile, the third CALL athletics traffic and field events will come off on Monday at the Accra Sports Stadium involving participants from Keep Fits Clubs, the disabled and Greater Accra Senior Secondary School teams.