Ghana’s national youth boxing team, the Black Rockets, departed Accra on Saturday night, October 19, 2024, en route to Budva, Montenegro, to compete in the IBA Youth World Championships. The prestigious tournament is scheduled to take place from Sunday, October 20, to Friday, October 25, 2024.
A delegation led by the President of the Ghana Boxing Federation (GBF), DSI Bernard Quartey, was at Kotoka International Airport (KIA) to see off the team. Also in attendance were key GBF executives, including 1st Vice President Alhaji Dauda Fuseini, 2nd Vice President Solomon Otoo Lartey, Treasurer Mustapha Nettey, and Communications Officer Charles Jojo Sergius-Ephson, along with patrons, family members of the boxers, and enthusiastic fans from Bukom, a community renowned for its boxing talent.
GBF President Quartey encouraged the team to use the tournament as a springboard to build their careers and showcase their potential on the global stage. “This is an opportunity to prove that you are the stars of tomorrow,” Quartey remarked.
The Black Rockets, under the guidance of Head Coach Charles Quartey, have been undergoing intensive training for the past three months at the Charles Quartey Boxing Gym. The six boxers representing Ghana in the competition are:
- George Nii Ayi Nortey Dowouna (Light Flyweight)
- Mathias Ashitey (Flyweight)
- Francis Quartey (Featherweight)
- Ebenezer Ankrah (Lightweight)
- Levi Nii Ayi Mensah (Light Welterweight)
- Desmond Pappoe (Light Middleweight)
The athletes, aged 16 to 18, were selected from a local boxing showcase in Accra and are competing in their first major international tournament. Their performances in Montenegro are seen as pivotal steps toward future representation in elite global competitions, including the Olympics, Commonwealth Games, African Games, and World and Africa Championships.
“This is just the beginning of your boxing journey. To become world-class athletes, you must remain disciplined, focused, and respectful,” advised Alhaji Dauda Fuseini, as he urged the boxers to give their best.
The 2024 edition of the IBA Youth World Championships, in which Ghana is participating for the first time, will feature top youth boxers from over 80 countries. The tournament, which has been a springboard for many future stars over the past three decades, offers Ghana’s young talents an invaluable opportunity to shine on the world stage.
— GBF Media
