UP CLOSE WITH SWAG NOMINEE FOR BEST CYCLIST OF THE YEAR 2021/22- ANTHONY BOAKYE DANKWA BOAFO

The “Ultimate Sports” led by lead writer, Dennis Kweku Moore caught up with the Captain of the National Cycling Team, the Golden Pedals, and SWAG Awards nominee for 2021/22 Anthony Boakye Dankwa Boafo who plies his trade with River Park Cycling club in the Bono Region. This was all that ensued:

Ultimate Sports: Good Evening Boakye!
Anthony Boakye: Good evening Mr. Dennis
US: Hope you doing good?
AB: Yes sir, by God’s grace.
US: I want us to quickly have some chat with regards to your Cycling lifestyle vis a vis your nomination for the SWAG Awards this year too?
AS: Ok Sir!
US: To begin with, readers would want to know where you schooled!
AS: Twene Amanfo Senior High/Technical School
US: How were you into Cycling?
AS: I use to use bmx bikes when l was a kid and one day on my way to school l meet some friends of my training on my passages way to school with a road bike so l ask them how l can join them and they showed me to their captain and he explained how l can join if interested.
US: Who inspired you into the Sport?
AS: As a young boy l love riding my bike a lot and it got to a time l couldn’t have much time for my books in school so l was performing poorly in class and l was called by one my teacher and advised not to pay much attention to the bike but to Learn my books .”the teacher said in Ghana no one had ever travelled outside Ghana riding professionally as a sport unless football and he informed me to make research if he is lying.”so l did and there was nothing of such and l confidently said l will one day prove him wrong that l can do it .
US: How did your peers see you choose Cycling as your career?
AB: Most friends at first didn’t like the idea because they thought cycling wasn’t worthy as a career,but as time goes one they came to understand how beautiful the sport was when l started making good achievements .
US: Who,in your estimation has been the best Cyclist you have ridden with in your life?
AB: Meeting up with some pro cyclists like cavendish,Thomas geraint and Bradley Wiggins in London during the 2014 commonwealth games and even had the chance to race with them gave me more hope and experience and made me to work had during my training workouts.
US: Is your family happy with the path you have chosen?
AB: My family didn’t like the idea of cycling but that was what l had passion for so they had to leave me to be
US: Which other discipline do you like apart from Cycling?
AB: Athletics (l some times get busy with running and that had made me have passion for running).
US: Do you intend to marry soon?
AB: I believe marriage is part of human life but at the right time God willing l will surely get married.
US: You have been shortlisted as a Cycling volunteer for the upcoming Paris Olympics? How do you feel?
AB: I am very excited about this privilege because l believe the little hard worked l have put in for years had finalized started paying off .
US: I saw you personally serving under the late Samuel Anim. Are you proud of him to have nurtured you to this far?
AB: I had a dream and for that to happen l was very humble and discipline to my senior cyclists so that they can also teach me what to know to become best at what l do .
US: What do you want to achieve in Cycling?
AB: I will like to be seen in the world continental cycling championships competition one day and be winning a lot of medals for my country as a professional cyclist, and also be holding one of the best cycling academy in Ghana so that l can train interested athletes who have the passion to cycle.
US: How many siblings do you have?
AB: I have a lot of family members whom have now come to love cycling as a sport. Three brothers.
US: Cycling has been nominated as one of the best five disciplines by SWAG. Are you surprised?
AB: I am much excited for hearing such wonderful news because Ghana cycling federation have been doing alot for the Ghanaian cyclists.and l believe is a plus for their hardwork efforts over the years.
US: Who is your favorite foreign rider?
AB: Chris froome.
US: What has been your greatest challenge in life as a Cyclist?
AB: Getting a sponsor had been a greatest challenge in my cycling career,cycling as a sport is very difficult and requires alot of time and financial assistance.getting your bike in good shape for competition hasn’t been easy at all .
US: Ghana would be hosting the Africa Road Paracycling Championships next month. Are you featuring?
AB: Yes l am and it will be a history for my country Ghana.
US: Is there any fear in you to deliver with your colleagues for Ghana?
AB: The road always decides who is stronger and can perform best ,as long as l am training l had no fear against anyone.
US: Which African country do you see to be powerful in Cycling?
AB: Eritrean,Rwandan,Ethiopia and Morocco
US: Any sponsors in mind you would want to thank?
AB: I would like to thank my family for not giving up on me,supporting and giving me all the best advice l needed and also to my teammates whom contributed a lot during racing and training and my coaches whom have been always keeping me on wheels.
Not leaving the Ghana cycling federation for their great efforts when l had scholarships to South Africa to learn more about cycling.God richly blessed all hands who contributed to this amazing success of 2022 and my manager Mr Riyard Mohammed whom had been assisting me alot. Again to Promasidor,Cowbell for putting life into Cycling and thereby shaping my form.
US: Your final words!
AB: Life is all about how useful you make it, so if you have passion for what you do best try to be a go getter and with God all things are possible
US: Thanks for your time and wishing you all the best in the upcoming Championships
AB: Thank you Mr. Dennis. Bye