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Ex-boxer calls for recognition for heroes
Sunyani, (B/A) May 22, GNA - A retired Ghanaian professional
boxer has called for the recognition of the nation’s sports
heroes whilst they are alive and not wait for them to die
before showering them with praises and glorifying their
names.
“D. K. Poison was the first Ghanaian boxer to win a world
title but his contributions to sports have not been well
recognized. They should not wait for us to die before
singing praises on us”.
Nana Yaw Konadu, former WBC Super Flyweight Champion and one
of the finest boxers the nation has ever produced who is now
the Brong Ahaf0 Regional boxing coach, said this in an
interview with the GNA Sports in Sunyani.
He noted that boxing has produced great heroes for the
country including he himself but added that it was rather
sad that his name is not even mentioned when the nation’s
past sports heroes are being mentioned or recognised.
The former champion bemoaned the current decline in sports
in the country, notably boxing, while greater attention is
being given to football to the detriment of other sporting
disciplines.
“If the situation is not checked the youth will not see
sports as profitable and attractive enough to make any
venture into it”, Nana Konadu added.
The retired pugilist noted that although there are many
youth in the Region who have interest in boxing, the lack of
basic facilities for training was preventing them from
pursuing the sport.
Nana Konadu said the only boxing gymnasium in the region,
located at the Sunyani Coronation Sports stadium was in
ruins but added that the Regional Sports Council was making
frantic efforts to set up a new one to assist young boxers.
The former boxing champion appealed to private businessmen,
corporate bodies and other individuals in the Region to
support the Council to woo and attract interested youth into
sports to steer them away from indulging in social vices.
Nana Konadu shot into fame in 1984 and within 10 years
annexed four titles of the World Boxing Authority (WBA),
International Boxing Council (IBC), the Commonwealth,
African Boxing Union (ABA) and the national titles in Super
-Flyweight and Bantam-weight divisions.
GNA
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