Ghanaian Cyclists Blame Old Bicycles For Poor Show
In the aftermath of their disappointing performance at the ongoing Maputo 2011 All Africa Games, Ghanaian cyclists say their efforts were undone by their rather outmoded, old and worn out bicycles.
Two different Ghanaian cyclists punctured tires in the men’s individual trial and the men’s team trial races, reducing them to mere also-rans at the Games.
Ahead of last Sunday’s 145-km road race which brought them little respite, it had emerged that the Ghanaian cyclists had to fall on some other competing nationals to put their bicycles in good shape for the event.
But National Sports Council chief executive, Worlanyo Agra, said the autonomy attained by the various national associations since the impasse that dogged the Ghana Olympic Committee after the International Olympic Committee suspended Ghana from the international scene puts the problem at the door step of the National Cycling Association.
The attainment of autonomy meant the various national associations weaned themselves from political interference, whether in the appointment of administrators or in deciding the smaller policy direction that would enhance the growth and development of the particular association.
Ghana’s six cyclists at the Games - Henry Djangmah, Samuel Anim, Emmanuel Obuor, Aminu Ousman, Nuru Pardie and Adnan Mohammed - openly attributed their flop to the aged bicycles they used in their competitions, some of them claiming their equipment were as old as 10 years.
The sight of the Ghanaians’ heavy-laden bicycles in comparison to the light equipment of cyclists from South Africa, Algeria, Mauritius and other countries was a sad spectacle that betrayed the essence of bringing an ill-prepared contingent to the Games.
But Agra said while the exposure gained from the competition could not discounted, it was important that the various discplines considered their competence in terms of performance on the international scale before the adventure into the All Africa Games.