Coach WO1 Napari John has called on Ghanaian boxing stakeholders to unite and show love by supporting each other if they want a positive future. For him, the administration is not smooth.
Speaking on The Big Fight Night show on Omashi TV, the popular heavyweight boxer, now technical manager of the Ghana Armed Forces boxing team revealed that there is no love and unity among the hierarchy of the sport in Ghana and that is the major problem.
“If it’s not me then it’s bad.but if it’s me then it’s good that is the situation” he stated.
According to the experienced boxing coach with a record of 29-25-4’0, he feels he played his part well and displayed sportsmanship.
He identified lack of basic equipment like gloves and training shoes as another problem saying there are many young people who want to learn the art but there are not many gyms and clubs in other regions like Accra.
He expressed his joy when the Ghana Armed Forces won the Ghana National Boxing League sponsored by Max TV. “It is all about teamwork and I congratulate my boxers for that achievement because we worked for it” he said.
Coach Napari, a northerner is very much known among Bukom boxing fans as a fantastic disciplinarian. While an active boxer, he is an IBA certified coach and hopes for more achievement and rewards.
He says boxing is his life, and boxing can do a lot if the authorities open up and allow more people to bring ideas and suggestions.
He thinks the best of Ghana Boxing can be revived.
Former world heavyweight champion, Mike Tyson is his idol; Napari has fought against crack boxers like Ray Akwei. Ibrahim Marshall, John Tetteh Ayeh and Abu Kamoko. At over 40, he will never reject a good offer to fight.
He has advised that self-interest is not the way to go in boxing administration but opening up and getting more people to fight. Promote and watch.
“We are not together, if we are together we will achieve a lot” he advised..
By Sammy Heywood Okine