Commentary: Is Baku Worth Going?

So the question being now asked after Ghana’s abysmal performance at International Boxing Association (AIBA) All-Olympic Qualifiers in Yaoundé, Cameroon is whether to take the Black Bombers to the AIBA Olympic Boxing (AOB) Final World Olympic Qualification tournament in Baku, Azerbaijan later this year?

Ghana faces the prospects of missing out of the Olympics boxing tournament for the first time in 12 years as it could not qualify a single boxer to the Rio Games despite being positive about their chances before they left Accra.

All nine boxers presented at the African qualifiers, failed to book a ticket to the Olympics and Ghana will not be represented in Brazil unless the nation does well to qualify boxer’s at that the AOB championship in Azerbaijan between June 14-26.

Commentary is asking whether Baku is worth going for the Ghanaians considering the fact that they failed so woefully at the African event which served as a good platform for them to gain easier qualification.

Should the Bombers be made to go to the AOB in June where they will come up against the rest of the world in the battle for the last few spots at the Rio Games?

Certainly, the country is in a quagmire as to whether to go or not and clearly, the most definite answer should be a big no as the prospects of doing well will be much more limited than in Yaoundé.

Youth and Sports Minister Nii Lante Vanderpuye have already stated that concrete reasons must be given as to why they ought to be allowed to go and represent Ghana at the event.

He questioned whether they will do well at the event and be able to qualify Ghana to the Olympics and this is a position commentary is also in support of.

So, what might have caused Ghana boxing at this level to sink so low? The nation has a very proud tradition at this level, producing boxers that have gone on to do great things in the sport after they turned professional and the names as countless.

One problem has to do with the quality of trainers we have in the system now. The depth is lacking and Ghana will continue to fall back if the system is not changed.

Also, with the lack of quality trainers, averagely boxers are being pushed to hit above their weight, and, when they go into international competitions, they will always fall short when they come up against better prepared opponents.

The Ghana Amateur Boxing Authority (GBA) has also not helped in this direction as they have failed to organize and promote events that would inspire the youth to take to the sport and with it, develop more talents as it used to be in the past.

Woefully, the Ministry and the National Sports Authority have failed to inspire hope and confidence in a sport that has won so much respect, fame and applause for Ghana in the past and this is so pathetic to say the least.

Commentary will be watching keenly how these developments play out. Whether we send these boxers to Baku or not and whether the amateur sport will once again rise to the standards it used to be before?