National weightlifter threatens to quit the sport
The weightlifter has called on the authorities to find employment for the country’s athletes to keep them in the sports
Ghana News Agency (Accra) – Winifred Ntumy, one of the nation’s leading weightlifters and three bronze medallists at the 2019 African Games, has threatened to quit the sport if she remains unemployed.
She said without employment, she may be compelled to quit and find a job outside the sport to cater for herself and family adding that the pressure to find means of survival was huge.
Ntumy is, therefore, urging the Ministry of Youth & Sports and the National Sports Authority (NSA) to help athletes have a meaningful source of income.
“As a weightlifter, I have to get good nutrition and sound mind to train, but sometimes I feel sad and want to quit, but when I think of people like Ben Nunoo Mensah, who has over the years motivated me to keep on…” she said.
“I do not understand why footballers in the national team are given better care than boxers, athletes, and other sportsmen and women. If it gets worse, I would have no choice than to stop and look for a job elsewhere,” she said.
She praised the president of the Ghana Weightlifting Federation (GWF), Ben Nunoo Mensah who doubles as the Ghana Olympic Committee (GOC) President for taking care of her over the years.
Ntumy won Ghana’s first medal at the 2019 African Games and went on to grab two more said she has to train harder to get silver or gold when the next African Games which would be hosted by Ghana.
“It’s not easy at all, now we are only two females doing serious weightlifting, but we are not inspired at all,” she noted.
She called on the government to support national athletes, especially after competitions.
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