Abu Kamoko, the promising boxer and son of former Ghanaian boxing legend Brimah Kamoko, finds himself sidelined from the Black Bombers squad for the upcoming Olympic Qualifiers in Bangkok, Thailand. Despite his silver medal win at the African Games, Kamoko’s performance has failed to impress boxing authorities, leading to his exclusion from the crucial tournament.
The decision comes amidst Ghana’s struggle to secure Olympic qualifications, with all 12 boxers from the previous qualifiers in Senegal and Italy failing to make the cut. With the stakes higher than ever, the Ghana Boxing Federation (GBF) is determined to field a team capable of securing Olympic berths.
Kamoko, also known as Ambitious Tilapia, initially gained attention with his impressive run to the final of the cruiserweight division at the 2023 African Games, where he clinched the silver medal. However, his style of boxing has not met the standards set by the GBF, prompting the decision to leave him out of the Thailand-bound squad.
Mohammed Aryeetey, another standout performer at the African Games with a gold medal to his name, also finds himself omitted from the squad, further emphasizing the GBF’s commitment to selecting only the most competitive boxers.
While Kamoko may feel aggrieved by the decision, the GBF stresses the importance of raising the bar in terms of performance to compete at the international level effectively. Despite his past achievements, Kamoko must prove himself worthy of representing the nation on the Olympic stage.
Meanwhile, the GBF has plans to take the reserves from the Black Bombers to a tournament in New Zealand, providing them with an opportunity to showcase their talents and potentially earn future selection for international competitions.
As Ghana’s boxing community awaits the outcome of the upcoming Olympic qualifiers, the exclusion of Kamoko and Aryeetey serves as a stark reminder of the rigorous standards required to succeed in the sport at the highest level.
By:Sammy Heywood Okine
