Ex-WBC Champion doubts ability of Ghanaian boxers to win medals at All Africa Games

Napoleon Tagoe, former World Boxing Council (WBC) Inter-Continental Cruiserweight Champion has raised doubts as to the capability of any member of the Black Bombers team winning medals at the impending 10th All Africa Games in Maputo, Mozambique.

He said the boxers have not gone through the necessary preparations to grant them a medal at the championship, adding “I won’t be surprise if they come home empty handed”.

Tagoe told GNA Sports in Accra that even though the event was just a week away, the boxers are still not in camp to fine-tune their preparations for the competition adding that they are also not medically fit to deliver.

“By this time our boxers should be in camp preparing and fine tuning, whilst the necessary medical examinations such as malaria tests are conducted on them to ensure they are well conditioned for the Games, but that is not the situation. I wonder if they will be good enough for the competition.

“The fitness level of the boxers for me is doubtful and this could affect them greatly at the competition. You can mark it on the wall they will come without a single medal”.

Tagoe, however, conceded that any of the individual boxers could defy the odds and win medals but said that will come as a major surprise to him because, technically and medically the boxers are not ready for the Games.

The camp of the Black Bombers has been rocked with minor problems following the decision of officials of the Ghana Amateur Boxing Association (GABA) to embark on a reshuffle of the technical team.

Coach Ofosu Asare, one of the longest serving coaches of the Black Bombers has been dropped from the team with legendary Azumah
Nelson scheduled to take over as the new coach.

The change has attracted serious protests from the United Coaches Association of Ghana with claims that Azumah Nelson had over the years questioned their competence and disrespected them.

“After insulting us, he wants to coach boxers we have discovered, groomed and trained at the All Africa Games. It will never happen,” Tagoe told the GNA Sports.

Ghana’s contingent is expected to depart Accra for Mozambique on Tuesday, August 29 to participate in the 15 Pan-African Sports Festival.

Source: GNA