Govt urged to support activities of feds

The President of the Ghana Cycling Federation (GCF), Moham­med Sahnoon has appealed to the government to make funds available to support the activities of federations.

That, he said, will put the fed­erations in good position to train athletes to win medals at interna­tional competitions.

According to Mr Sahnoon who was recently retained as GCF President, it was only when gov­ernment directly support federa­tions that it could make demands after participation in international competitions.

“Government cannot blame athletes for not performing well if it does not provide resources that would support their develop­ment,” he stated.

He said resource was very cru­cial to the performance of athletes at competitions and was crucial for government to intervene in that regard.

“That would give the govern­ment the right to question the performance of athletes at inter­national competitions,” he added.

Also commenting on the upcoming African Games to be hosted in Ghana after his re-elec­tion, he urged the Local Organ­ising Committee (LOC) for the games to ensure that athletes were prepared well to make a significant impact at the event.

Mr Sahnoon said GCF was expecting new bicycles from the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) to support the national team.

He said the current administra­tion has an expanded structure to ensure that they engage and get a lot of people on board for the day-to-day running of the sport.

“Hitherto, it was only the exec­utive board but now we have the management committee com­prising members of the various regions of the country. The struc­ture is stronger and we are going to have a lot of engagements, more coaching events and training for cyclists in Ghana and abroad,” he stated.

The December 28 election saw Sahnoon being retained as Pres­ident, Riyard Mohammed as the Vice President, Shaaban Moham­med as Secretary General, Joseph Kwame Addo as Deputy Secretary General and Bright Kwaasi Nyar­ko as Treasurer.

Others are Wilberforce Nii Quaye, executive member; Daniel Amoo – Technical Director; with Kwabena Larbi, Charles Hansen-quao and Kojo Graham co-opted.

The regional representatives are Albert Nii Oku (Greater Accra Region), Riyahd Mohammed (Eastern Region), Joseph Kwame Addo (Central Region), Inusah Mohammed (Western Region), Caesar Dzikunu (Ashanti Region); Amen Amentor, Volta Region; Charles Nsiah Boateng – Brong Ahafo; Abdul Wahab Zakari – North East region and Ali Umar, Northern Region.

Richards Yaw will represent the Para Athletes, while the Cadets and Youth National Coordinator position would be occupied by Zakari Seidu with the Finance and Audit Committes consisting of­Bright Nyarko, Ali Umar, Charles Hansen-quao, Kwabena Larbi and Nii Lartey Mingle.

BY MICHAEL D. ABAYATEYE