Northern sector has potentials in boxing and athletics

Tamale, July 26, GNA - Prince Oduro-Mensah, Chief Executive Officer of the National Sports Council (NSC) has observed that the Northern sector has the potential to produce good boxers and long distance runners capable of making the country proud in international assignments.

He mentioned Northern, Upper East, Upper West and Brong-Ahafo Regions as the places to hunt for talents in boxing and long distance races.

Mr. Oduro-Mensah told the GNA in Tamale on Wednesday that the country would not only depend on soccer but would also exploit other areas such as boxing, netball, volleyball, basketball and long distance races to ensure that the country participated effectively in every international sporting activity.

The CEO is touring the three Northern Regions to discuss with the Regional Sports Development Officers, some District Chief Executives and chiefs how to hunt for potentials in various sporting events and to see how best their contributions would help to develop sports in the country.

He is also meeting with some chiefs and traditional rulers in the three regions to explain to them essence of attaching sporting activities to their annual Traditional Festivals to promote unity and good neighbourliness.

He said, "The environment in the north dictates to the people to be hard and to endure in the fields of long distance running," adding that the youth were energetic and could absorb pain, which would make them perform better in boxing."

Mr. Oduro-Mensah said the National Sports Council would ensure that boxing rings would be provided in all the ten regions as a way of improving and resuscitating the pugilistic sport in the country. He said there was the need to appoint permanent officials from the Sports Council or contract people, to take it upon themselves to continuously hunt for talents in boxing, handball, volleyball and tennis, which must be nurtured to stardom for the benefit of the country.

The CEO also charged District Assemblies to join in the crusade to develop sports to an appreciable level.

He advised the youth not to hide their potentials in any sporting event, which he said would help them to gain entry into the security forces, but to strive to improve on their performances to bring laurels to the nation.