Swimming Coach Opare calls for investment in the sport

Mr Daniel Opare, swimming coach of Ghana at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games has called for more investment in the sport.

Speaking to this portal, the head coach of the University of Ghana Swim Team and the Legon Swim Club said swimming in Ghana is still in the developing stage.

"The nation needs to invest in this sport. We need to approach it in a more sophisticated way.

Yes, there is a lot of prospect in it. The only challenge is the lack of facilities. Swimming in Ghana is basically Accra and Kumasi. It should spread across the country" he said.

As a trainer since 2012, he expressed that it has been his passion since childhood, growing up in Accra, and always dreamt of swimming for his country but could accomplish this, rather he ended up becoming a coach.

" I have trained a number of swimmers. Some swam for the nation and others competed at the university level. Some are currently swimming coaches, like Mark Ofosu Twum who is currently coaching in the US, Richard Asante Yeboah, Natasha Addai, and many others. One of my current swimmers, who is also a triathlete and doing great for the country is Ebenezer Osabutey who competes in both Swimming and Triathlon for Ghana " he revealed.

According to Opare, swimming is one sport that exercises every part of your body.

First of all it is seen as a sport for the rich and secondly the lack of facilities.

It's a good opportunity for the country, as the more Ghana hosts continental events, the more we get recognised by the International Swimming Federation, and this comes with a lot of opportunities

He disclosed that the clubs in Ghana are now thinking of a professional league system.

He was born at Dansoman in Accra on 11th July 1985 to Mr Opare Jacob and Mrs Salamatu Haruna. He has four siblings, and schooled at Riches of Glory Academy in Dansoman, before entering Accra Academy and then to the University of Ghana for his tertiary education.

Coach Dan Opare said anyone can swim from the early age 1 to 90 years.

The nation needs to make a conscious effort to develop swimming. If people learn to swim and make them part of their routine exercise, it will cut down the cost of expenditure on health by the nation. Government needs to make an effort to achieve this.

Abeiku Jackson is a fantastic swimmer whom all swimmers in Ghana look up to and he believes he is coming out with his best for the nation.

He said Unilez Takyi who is also at the Tokyo Games is a young swimmer with lots of potentials, and she has promised me she will go all out for the nation.

Coach Opare was optimistic will swimmers will make Ghana proud and should be encouraged.