Hon. Nii Kotey Ashie lauds visit of Coach Don Charles

The Parliamentary Candidate (PC) of the NDC for Odododiodoo Constituency, Hon. Alfred Nii Kotey Ashie has hailed the historic visit of Coach Don Charles to the Bronx Boxing Gym at Jamestown in Accra and said it would inspire many people in the community.

According to him, the gesture of presenting equipment to the gym managed by Ace Coach Carl Lokko is going to create opportunities and open doors for some people to enter halls of fame and fortune.

He noted that the Bronx Gym in his constituency and others are always in need of support so the widow’s mite of the champion trainer who is the coach and dad of Daniel Dubois, current IBF heavyweight champion is historic and inspiring.

“The people of Odododiodoo are proud to welcome a world class champion coach to the motherland and this visit will change lives” Hon. Ashie said.

On Friday Don Charles who is a Nigerian met boxers and trainers of the gym of champions and gave them some technical tips and motivational messages.

He advised them to train seriously and look beyond to the future as their sweat will one day yield positive results.

He took turns with the boxers on the pad and later spoke to some media.

He said Africa has massive talent and if they are groomed well professionally, they would become champions.

“I have been monitoring the Bronx Gym of Ghana from afar and this is just the beginning of greater things to come” he expressed after presenting gloves.head gears and tee shirts to CEO of the gym, Mr. Sammy Anim Addo, who was supported by the PC, veteran boxing consultant Yoofi Boham and head coach Lokko who was at a point emotional in recollecting the tough long journey to this present stage.

He advised colleagues trainers not to be selfish and greedy, but share and love to win more favour and love.

“I could be somewhere with my family,  but decided to be at home to support, unearth, groom and create champions for Ghana and Africa” he expressed.

The Bronx Boxing Gym currently has  WBO Africa Champions in Sheriff Quaye, John Laryea, Jacob Laryea and Daniel Gorsh,

the Ashanti Warrior, Stanley Nyantekyi, John Zile aka the monster, Stephen Coffie, Emmanuel Quartey, Derek Quaye, Abu Kamoko aka Bukom Tilapia and Samson Solomon are future champions like Najat Lokko training at the gym.

Coach Lokko recalled meeting Don Charles over ten years back, but never expected a surprise visit which would affected many people.

Mr. William Ezah, former General Secretary of the Sports Writers Association of Ghana (SWAG), said the gym deserves more from the media to keep the young boxers always in the gym and not on the streets of Bukom.

Executives of the Ghana Boxing Federation (GBF) First and Second Vice Presidents Dauda Fuseni and Solomon Otoo, Patrick Johnson and Dr. Stephen Addison of Boxup fame as well as Yours Truly, President of the Ghana Boxing Writers Association were present at the gym to show affection and solidarity.

By Sammy Heywood Okine