Ten amateur Ghanaian boxers to train in Cuba ahead of London 2012

Ghana would send ten members of the National Amateur Boxing team, the Black Bombers on a training tour of Cuba ahead of the London 2012 Olympics Games.

The boxers are expected to have months of training in Cuba, which is noted for its strength in amateur boxing after dominating the events over the past years.

Worlanyo Agra, Director General of the National Sports Authority (NSA) disclosed this to the GNA Sports in an interview on Tuesday in Maputo Mozambique.

He said the tour will take the boxers through rigorous training programmes to enable them to prepare physically and mentally for the global event.

Agra said the team will also cease the opportunity to learn modern trends in the sport, especially the new scoring system and how to apply the right punches in amateur boxing.

“Most of our boxers still fight like professionals and that is how come we did not perform well at the All Africa Games.

“The sport has changed over the years, you don’t just punch but ensure that it is a scoring one and these are some of the things they will study whilst in Cuba to remedy the situation”. Agra stated.

Agra said the team will also have adequate concentration whilst in Cuba, because there will be less distractions.

“Over there, it will be training and rest and nothing else and this will put them in the best of shapes for the Olympic Games next year”. He intimated.

Agra said the NSA will collaborate with the Ghana Amateur Boxing Authority (GABA) to plan the trip, adding that they will also help in the selection of the boxers for the trip as well as the time for training programme.

The Black Bombers, once a powerful force in Amateur Boxing in Africa could only manage two compensatory bronze medals at the 10th All Africa Games through David Bawa and Maxwell Amponsah.

The other eight members of the team were eliminated at the early stages of the competition sending worrying signals about the future of the sport in the country and so the need for pramatic measures to curb the default.

Source: GNA