Amateur boxers who could otherwise loose the opportunity to represent Ghana in the upcoming Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, due to funding constraints, might be getting some support from two companies who have a strong history of supporting local talent; Geodrill and Ultimo Gardens to make the trip.
The Ghana Boxing Federation (GBF) is presenting two amateur boxers in the amateur boxing category of this year’s Olympic Games which is currently expected to begin from Friday July 24 to Sunday August 9, 2020.
The two had qualified after a qualifier held in Dakar, Senegal from February 20 and to February 29, 2020.
Five of the Black Bombers team reached the semi-finals after winning their first bouts in Dakar; out of which three got bronze medals. Two eventually qualified for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
They are team captain, Sulemana Tetteh, Flyweight (2019 African Games, Quarterfinalist) and new entrant, Featherweight sensation, Samuel Takyi.
Geodrill, West Africa’s leading drilling services company to the mining sector, and its sister company, Ultimo Gardens, a real estate firm who supported the team to Dakar have promised to put resources together to ensure the Ghana Boxing Federation’s preparedness towards the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games is adequate.
The two firms supported the team’s qualifier bid in February with five air tickets amounting to Ghc17,000 and an undisclosed amount of money.
The President and CEO of the two companies, Dave Harper presenting the tickets and cash on February 13, 2020 prior to the qualifier promised that should they qualify for Tokyo, the two firms will give them another support.
After the team qualified, Mr. Harper has reiterated the promise to support the Tokyo 2020 campaign of the Black Bombers adding that “the companies have been supporting boxing for the past ten years and have good relations with the federation and the Ghana Olympic Committee (GOC).”
“Geodrill is a long-time supporter of Ghana Boxing, we took the Bombers to Australia [2018 Commonwealth Games]. Now they have done well in Dakar at the Olympic Games qualifiers, we promise to support them and we have made good our promise”. Mr. Harper said.
The companies will continue to support them to go to Tokyo for the 2020 Olympic Games, he added,
The national boxing team, their President George Lamptey, first Vice President, Abdul Samadu Mohammed and former WBC Champion, Professor Azumah Nelson expressed gratitude to Geodrill and Ultimo Gardens for their continues support to boxing.
They promised that should the support be given, they will ensure the team does their absolute best for the country and their benefactors. They will make everyone proud.
Technical Director of the Federation, Dr. Ofori Asare said the boys are poised and ready to train hard to win medals for the country.
Geodrill has also been supporting the Azumah Nelson Fight Nights that features both amateur and professional boxers and is passionate about promoting Ghanaian talent to the world.