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Female runners declare 'war' in
Algiers
(From Richard Avornyotse, GNA Special Correspondent in
Algiers, Algeria)
Algiers, July 12, GNA - Ghana's female athletics team at the
9th All Africa Games in Algiers has declared war, while
awaiting the commencement of the athletics segment of the
fiesta.
Speaking to the GNA Sports at the Taleb Abdul Rahman Games
Village situated at Ben Aknoun, a plush suburb of the
Algerian capital, the runners said they
had resolved to break all obstacles, if any to ensure they
won medals for Ghana.
Esther Danquah, who will enter the starting blocks for the
100 and 200 metres sprints said their determination had no
limits as they would like their performances to attract more
attention in the track and field categories.
The USA based runner called for equal support for athletics
as football and appealed to sports administrators and
corporate Ghana to sponsor young, budding athletes to
overseas training programmes, adding that athletics also has
the capacity to raise Ghana's profile on the world sporting
map.
'We are here to prove a point and we surely will win
individual and team medals.'
Oh her part, Rosina Amenebede, a soldier based at the Burma
Camp in Accra, who will participate in the long jump and 100
metres hurdles said her aim was to get medals in both
events.
She said she had benefited from her training tour of Holland
and would like to show her gratitude to her employers and
the Graphic Corporation, which sponsored her to Holland by
returning home with medals.
Elizabeth Amolofo, a police woman who said she was the most
likely candidate to start the sprint relays for Ghana said
her participation in the Commonwealth Games in Australia and
the African Championship in Mauritius has enboldened her to
face any runner on the circuit regardless of the kind of
credentials the runner might have.
She however called for prayers from the entire sporting
fraternity and particularly, from her colleagues in the
Ghana Police Service.
CEPS woman, Millicent Boadi said though the Algiers Games
was her first major competition, her training at the CEPS
Depot will empower her to fight to the end in her quest for
a medal.
When reminded that her event, the half marathon was the
preserve of the East Africans, she said it was time the
status quo changed to make way for new indices.
Mariama Salifu, a Community Health undergraduate of the Utah
Valley University in the US, who is poised to compete for
honours in the 100, 200 and 4 X 100 metres relay said her
failure to participate in the Commonwealth Games in
Melbourne, Australia due to ill health even though she made
the trip was her motivating factor.
She said the illness denied her the chance to compete with
the best in the Commonwealth and would therefore not
disappoint on the African big stage.
She said the entire team was in 'a great mood,' while
awaiting the arrival of Vida Anim and Margaret Simpson and
called for support and encouragement from Ghanaians.
Winding up for her colleagues, Gifty Addy said she shared in
their sentiments, adding that with the completion of the
tartan tracks at the El Wak Stadium, the authorities must
endeavour to organise many local competitions and sponsor
some athletes to participate in foreign competitions.
GNA
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