The story behind Clottey`s story…Ray Quarcoo

The success story of the new IBF Welterweight King Joshua Clottey, like a puzzle, cannot be complete without the mention of Mr. Ray Quarcoo, a SWAG patron. As an ardent boxing fan, he identified the boxing prowess of the Clottey brothers, Emmanuel and Joshua at the amateur stages of their careers.

Joshua's confirmation about the immense contribution of Mr. Quracoo in his career in yesterday's Graphic Sports, attests to Mr. Quarcoo's role in the boxer's career.

Responding to a question as to people who had helped him in his career, Joshua said “Mr. Ray Quarcoo took my brother- Emmanuel and I when we were young amateurs and made us the envy of the local boxing scene. He clothed us nicely for our boxing events and took very good care of us. He was and still remains a god-father.”

Speaking to the Chronicle Sports on telephone as to why he is passionate about sports in general and boxing in particular, Mr. Ray Quarcoo said that it has been his dream to offer a shoulder to people, especially the less privileged to lean on. “Its been my desire to help develop talents in sports and polish them, I just love being a blessing to people,” he noted.

Not only has he charted a cause for the Clottey brothers, but also for boxing hall of famer, Azumah Nelson, Ike Bazooka Quartey, former WBA Welterweight champion, Alfred Kotey, Ebo Danquah and Osumanu Yahaya among others, are some of the numerous boxers he has supported in diverse ways.

Recently, when Azumah staged a comeback against his Aussie opponent, Jeff Fenech in Australia, it was Mr. Quarcoo's huge influence that facilitated a sponsorship deal for the former World champion.

And in his quest to salvage the street children menace, he has built a multi purpose sports hall located at Roman Ridge to help identify and polish the sports potentials of the less privileged youth in the Nima, Accra New Town, Pig Farm and Roman Ridge environs.

The sports hall, an aspect of his NGO, The Bridge Foundation is run by a 61-year-old Robert Bevan, a retired British civil servant.