Ghana’s fastest man, Benjamin Azamati is hopeful of a good tournament here in Accra at the African Games. Azamati ran a time of 9.90 seconds years back to become the 100m record holder.
However, he is yet to win a competitive medal for the country.
He has had a few close shaves. The Olympics, the commonwealth games, the Diamond league and many more but this could be his biggest moment yet and he is expecting a big performance in Accra.
“I always see pressure as a way of performing better so the pressure here is just basically for me to perform better” He told 3Sports.
The University of Ghana Stadium in Legon, Accra feels like home for Benjamin Azamati. It was where he learned to hone his skills and get better at a sport that has given him a lot of recognition.
A few years ago, he was a student who walked under the trees of the school and won big for the school at the All Africa University Games and then the GUSA games.
To be back running in a major competition gives him a bit of joy but the nostalgia of having won medals on that same track spurs him on. “It feels good to be back home….” He said while looking around at the newly built University of Ghana stadium that looked nothing like he knew it before.
“It is always exciting to run in front of your home crowd. The last time I did that was at the GUSA games in 2020 so coming back and having to run in front of the whole nation is very good and I think it is very exciting. I am looking forward to that.”
Ghana will need a big performance from her athletes to deliver medals in Athletics. It won’t be just Benjamin Azamati in the pressure cooker.
There is Joseph Paul Amoah as well who laid down the marker at the Commonwealth Games in 2022 where he won the country first sprint medal since 1974 in the 200m.
“Getting a medal at the commonwealth games set the tone for myself and then my teammates as well,” he said.
That medal win was a good one for him and he is hoping to replicate that here in Accra.
Ghana’s team may be strong on paper but the coaching team is stronger. There is Eric Nkansah who is the general sprint coach and then Ignisious Gaisah.
Gaisah won multiple medals for the country and he is looking to train the jumpers to emulate for he did at the African Games in 2003 when he started.
Gaisah is training long jumper, Abraham Seaneke. Seaneke has had a good year since he first burst onto the scene in 2022.
Athletics begins at the University of Ghana stadium in Legon on Monday, March 18. The 100m men and women’s final is scheduled for March 19 and then the relay final would be on Wednesday, March 20.