Chief athletics coach justifies Zakari’s exclusion from Olympics team

Albert Nukpezah, Chief Coach of the Ghana Athletics Association (GAA) has described the decision to exclude Aziz Zakari from Ghana’s contingent for the summer Olympic Games as justifiable.

Zakari who claims to have qualified for the global event regarded as the biggest sports gathering in the world, was excluded in the nine-member contingent Ghana will hinge her hopes for Olympic glory on beginning July 27 in London.

Coach Nukpezah told GNA Sports that ‘Zakari’s exclusion from the team is justifiable. Though he qualified for the Olympic Games somewhere last year in an European competition, taking him to the event will not benefit Ghana’.

He said “Zakari has being to four or five Olympics and if the 4×100 relay team had qualified, then it will have been useful to take him along. At this stage, instead of thinking about just making an appearance, we should think about the future and give attention to young athletes instead”.

The Coach said the future belongs to the likes of Shepherd Agbeko and Appiah Kubi who should have been the focus for the Games after their exploits in the last two years.

It remains unknown if Zakari would be a late addition to the Team Ghana contingent with sources within the GAA disputing his qualification claims.

The nine confirmed athletes for the three-week gathering is made up of three track and field athletes, four boxers, a judoka and one weightlifter.

The quadrennial event slated for July 27 to August 12 will see sprint Queen Vida Anim making her fourth appearance at the global gathering where she dreams of a final berth after three failed attempts.

Margaret Simpson and Ignatius Gaisah complete the list of athletes who will be coached by former Ghanaian runners, Andrew Owusu and Leonard Myles-Mills.

The four boxers, Duke Micah, Isaac Dogboe, Sulemanu Tetteh and Maxwell Amponsah will enjoy the services of trainers- Ofori Asare and Vincent Nettey during the event.

Sole Judoka, Emmanuel Nartey will be trained by Hans Jurgen Klinger while former national champion, Majeti Fetrie will aid Alberta Ampomah in her quest to claim Ghana’s first medal in weightlifting at the Games.

Source: GNA

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