Young Nakai Nettey may not yet even be a teenager but the Primary School
pupil has already won big in his boxing career after claiming a scholarship
for his education up to University level following victory in a special
boxing tournament for kids between the ages of 8 and 12.
Nakai beat Isaac Kakraba in the final of the 2-day juvenile amateur boxing
tournament that climaxed on Sunday May 6 at Bukom Square with Sellasie
Daniel finishing 3rd. Ecstatic and grateful for his son’s education
scholarship is Mr. Nettey who said “they have removed a very big burden off
my head” moments after Nakai was crowned champion.
Organised by Makafui Zamrani of Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) and
under the auspices of the Greater Accra Amateur Boxing Association (GAABA),
the tournament was dubbed ‘Mini Hewa,’ a Ga word meaning “The Strong One.”
Accordingly, the main idea is to encourage many of these kids in Bukom and
environs to pursue education even as they engage in sports as boxing and
soccer.
“The main purpose is to advocate for children to attend school. Normally
young guys play football and boxing but many of them don’t go to school. It
does not mean that you are in sports so no schooling. We are going to talk
to the various gyms to encourage the kids to train in their gyms after
school,” explained Hon. Wallace Nii Tackie-Komme, Acting Chairman of GAABA.
He added: “We will try to also support them with things like boxing gloves,
bandages, gumshields, their vests and their pants.
Hon. Tackie-Komme who personally also offered to sponsor semi-finalist
Sellasie Daniel’s education from Class 4 where he is now up to Junior High
School level, insists that the boys are not too young to engage in the
fistic sport of exchanging blows.
“It’s not dangerous. At 12 years and involving boys in Class 4, 5 and 6 in
addition to all the protection gear, there is no danger. We want people to
know that boxing does not hurt. Like every sport, there can be injuries but
no danger,” the Acting GAABA Chairman stated.
“We want them to know that with discipline and good technique, you can
avoid injuries and dangerous situations,” Wallace Nii Tackie-Komme
reiterated.