Athletes lament lack of kits,inadequate preparations

Athletes representing Ghana at the ongoing All African Games have voiced their frustrations over the lack of proper equipment, gears, and inadequate preparations, attributing their poor performance to these challenges.

Members of the National Badminton Team and Ghana’s national cycling team, the Golden Bikers, have openly discussed the difficulties they have faced.

Ghana’s cycling champion, Michael Naaba, had to withdraw from the event after his personal equipment failed to meet Games standards, and he received no support from the Cycling Federation.

Naaba recounted how his bicycle’s tube burst during the race due to using his old equipment, which he had also used for training.

Without a spare bicycle available, he had no option but to discontinue the race.

He expressed disappointment in the Sports Ministry and the Ghana Cycling Federation for their failure to provide the necessary equipment, despite his rigorous training for over a year.

“The bike I am using was given to me by the federation when I won the national championship years ago. If the government doesn’t give us new bicycles, we cannot compete,” Naaba emphasized.

Another national cyclist, Alberta Adobea, revealed that they resorted to using their own bicycles and kits, as officials claim promised imported equipment had not yet arrived.

She highlighted the disadvantage of using aluminum bicycles, which are heavier making them slower and more cumbersome to ride compared to the fiber bicycles used by their competitors.

The cycling road race, scheduled to commence at Olebu, faced further delays due to a lack of fuel in the ambulance, causing frustration among participants.

Only after an “order from above” was the ambulance fueled, allowing the race to proceed.

In another instance, badminton player Leslie Addo shared his disappointment with receiving his racket just 24 hours before the competition, along with incorrectly sized shoes.

“We only received our rackets on Friday morning. Even with the shoes, I received a size 36 whilst I wear a shoe size 47. It is not fair to us,” Addo expressed.

He also raised concerns about their transportation arrangements, alleging that they are often crammed into the trunk of their coach’s pickup truck when traveling for competitions.

These grievances from Ghanaian athletes shed light on the challenges they face due to inadequate support and resources, impacting their performance at international events like the All African Games.