Boxing News of Sunday, 21 September 2014

Source: Editor Sports in Ghana

All set for Goldstar Airlines juvenile boxing talent hunt

James Town Roundabout in the hub of Ghanaian boxing, Bukom in Accra in the stage where the novelty juvenile boxing tournament aimed at recruitment via a unique roaming gym bells off to the first ever round on Sunday afternoon.

Seasons Travel and Tours, operators of Goldstar Airlines are teaming up with Will Power Gym to stage boxing tournaments every weekend for potential boxers between the ages of 12 and 16 across all the regions to be codenamed 'roaming gym.'

The initiative is sponsored by Goldstar Airlines, the wholly Ghanaian owned airline who have exhibited great corporate social responsibility even before they fully start operations., having back on Monday committed a total of GH¢18,000 (eighteen thousand Ghana Cedis) to the Will Power Boxing Gym to launch their nationwide talent hunt in the fistic sport.

Napoleon Tagoe, the former Ghana, Africa and Intercontinental boxing champion who owns the Will Power gym will supervise the entire recruitment and roaming gym model where the teenagers will aspiring to be boxers will be given the opportunity to compete for an opportunity to be selected for further training, even outside this country.

First point of call is the James Town Roundabout of course to be followed a week later by Gbese, also in the heart of Accra, same as third point of call, Busia. The roaming gym will then move to Chorkor on the 4th recruitment weekend, next lined up Chorkor Lante Maa me before Chorkor Extra O which completes a full 6-week calendar.

Despite the fact that they are still waiting for inspection by the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority and consequent authorisation to proceed with operation of their intended Accra to London (UK), Baltimore (US) and Guangzhou (China) flights, Goldstar Airline are even revealing bigger plans to help Ghanaians at large.

According to Eric Bannerman, CEO of Goldstar Airlines, staff who have been working hard behind the scenes ready for take-off, have come out with a unique fund, Goldstar Unite which will have seed money from deductions from each employee’s salary. Cash raised from this fund will be invested in constructing boreholes in deprived communities all over Ghana.

“That’s what we intend to do aside boxing and sponsoring disable supporters. Goldstar is Ghanaian owned; it can also fly the Ghana flag. A Ghanaian is capable of doing charters and we can't wait to begin flying the flag on our flights," Mr. Bannerman said.

"Our only problem now is the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority who have to inspect our equipment and give us approval to begin work. We are appealing to even President Mahama to call on them go and inspect our flight equipment and authorise us," the GoldStar Airline chief said.

"We are pleading with the President to use his good offices to encourage the GCAA to go and inspect our equipment so that they can give us the license to begin work. The cost of travel to the USA by GCAA inspectors and Goldstar Airlines officials as well as the license fee is about $30,000 and we are ready to pay,” Mr. Bannerman added.