Black Bombers need physios, doctors, says head coach

Black bombers trainer, Ofori Asare has called on the Sports Ministry to, as a matter of urgency, employ a physiotherapist, a medical doctor, and a nutritionist for the team.

Ofori Asare is the lead trainer for Ghana’s Olympic Games bound boxing trio of Sulemana Tetteh, Samuel Takyi, and Shakur Samir. The three boxers and other members of the national boxing team, the Black bombers have been camping at the Bukom Boxing Arena for weeks now.

However, his work, and to a larger extent, the team’s preparations have been hamstrung by the lack of essential support services. Presently, there is no physiotherapist, medical doctor, or nutritionist attached to the team.

Shakur Samir, one of the three boxers to have qualified for the Olympic Games, is carrying an injury. There is no medical doctor attached to the team to even access the extent of the injury, let alone begin treatment of him.

In an exclusive interview with Asaase Sports, Ofori Asare shed more light on the situation.

”When we are going to the Olympic Games, I’m pretty sure they – the Sports Ministry – will employ a physiotherapist, a doctor, and a nutritionist to travel with us. But we need them now. There are injuries that need to be treated here but there is no one to attend to these boxers” he told Asaase Sports.

Ofori Asare, while being appreciative of the support offered by Trust Sports, wants a more permanent solution to the problem.

”We need people who will be attached to us. Now we are taking advantage of the facility here to use the physiotherapist at the Trust Sports Emporium, Baffour Agyei. But he is not always available. That’s because it is not his job. That’s why we need someone who is employed to do these things for us” he said.

Coach Ofori Asare fears the team’s performance at the Olympic Games may be affected if the situation is not resolved.

”I feel very bad about this because if our boxers do not go to the Olympics in the right physical condition, it will affect our performance. If that happens, Ghanaians are going to blame the coaches and most of them do not even know the circumstances we are working in. So I want the right thing to be done. We will do our job, but you have to provide what the team needs” he concluded.