Ghana Chief Athletics coach left out Commonwealth Games squad
Ghana’s Chief Athletics coach, Albert Nukpeza, has been left out of the Ghana Athletics Association (GAA) team for the Commonwealth Games that open in Glasgow tomorrow.
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Mr Albert Nukpeza, got to know of his fate only last Friday when confirmed that the track and field team for the Games would be handled by former national athlete, US-based Andrew Owusu.
Apart from being dropped from the team to Glasgow, the coach also has no idea which athletes made the final team to the Games.
In an interview with an Accra-based radio station, Happy FM and later confirming it to the Daily Graphic, Coach Nupkeza, obviously unhappy, said he did not understand why he had been left out as the president of the GAA, Professor Francis Dodoo, did not offer any explanation.
“As the Chief Athletics coach, I do not know who is representing Ghana in what events as I have been completely sidelined after preparing the local athletes for the Games.
“When they were sent earlier to Ahr for the training programme, I was made to understand that we would join later, only for me to find out that I’ve been completely left out. I don’t know what is happening”.
“Indeed, when the athletics board asked Professor Dodoo about the team to the Games last week, he only flashed a sheet of paper, purported to have the list, to the meeting but did not read out the list. He never told anyone anything.
“Professor Dodoo has taken a unilateral decision without regarding the athletics board, and it looks like he has used his position at the Ghana Olympic Committee boss to have his way”, he complained.
Nukpeza has been the Chief National Athletics Coach since 2009. He is a coach of many years standing, grooming many of Ghana's finest athletes.
Efforts to get the GAA’s reaction on the issue proved futile as no official was ready to comment, with two key officials both referring the Graphic to the president of the GAA.