The Black Bombers, Ghana’s national boxing team, finds itself in a precarious position as they prepare for the upcoming Olympic qualifiers in Bangkok, Thailand, next month.

Despite the looming uncertainty surrounding their participation, Coach Kwasi Ofori Asare has wasted no time in initiating training sessions with his boxers starting today.

Acknowledging the uncertainty regarding Ghana’s involvement in the qualifiers scheduled from May 23 to June 3, which represents the final opportunity for boxers to secure one of the 51 spots for Paris 2024, Coach Asare emphasized the importance of being prepared. He stressed the necessity of training regardless of the uncertainty to ensure they are ready should they receive the green light from the boxing authorities.

“We may not have confirmation yet for our participation in Bangkok, but it’s crucial that we train and prepare diligently in case we do get the go-ahead,” Coach Asare explained in an interview with the Graphic Sports on Sunday, April 7.

In the event that the team is permitted to compete, Coach Asare stated that priority would be given to members of the Black Bombers who achieved success at the recent African Games in Ghana.

“We already have a core group within the Black Bombers, so selecting a team for Bangkok shouldn’t pose much of a challenge,” he assured.

Despite Ghanaian boxers’ failure to qualify for the Paris 2024 Olympics in previous qualifying events in Dakar and Italy, Coach Asare remains hopeful about their chances in Bangkok.

Optimism persists within the team, with Coach Asare expressing confidence that the necessary funds will be secured to facilitate the team’s participation in the qualifiers.

He dismissed rumors suggesting that Abubakar Kamoko, a light-heavyweight boxer and one of Ghana’s medallists at the African Games, had been excluded from consideration for the Bangkok qualifiers.

Regarding the inclusion of Mohammed Aryeetey, a gold medallist at the African Games, Coach Asare clarified that Aryeetey’s inclusion was not based on favoritism. Instead, he emphasized that Aryeetey was considered despite not participating in the national championship, which served as the qualifying event for the African Games.

“Aryeetey’s inclusion was a decision made based on careful consideration, not mere favoritism,” Coach Asare concluded.