Athletes and coaches who will represent Ashanti region at this year’s National Cross Country paid a visit to the Ashanti Regional Minister, Hon. Simon Osei-Mensah on Wednesday February 23, 2022 prior to departure for the national event in the Eastern region.
Twelve male and female athletes who will represent Ashanti region, together with their officials will set off from Kumasi to the Eastern region on Thursday, February 24, 2022 for the 2022 National Cross Country to be held at Akim Oda on Saturday.
The team, led by Ag. Ashanti Regional Director of NSA, Emmanuel Kojo Appiah paid a memorable visit to the Regional Coordinating Council on Wednesday to seek the blessings and well wishes of Regional Minister, Hon. Simon Osei-Mensah.
In his opening remarks, Emmanuel Kojo Appiah indicated, customs and tradition demand that, he visits high offices in the region with his team for good fortunes before they leave with the sole aim of achieving excellence at the national competition just like they did in 2021.
He updated the Regional minister on the team’s readiness and how far the NSA have gone with preparation after selecting the best 12 athletes; six males and six females to represent Ashanti region during the competition.
The Ag. Regional Director during his submission also assured the minister, the team will seek to maintain and improve upon their performance from the last edition and deliver success.
Ashanti Region won gold in the men’s race and silver in the women’s category at last year’s 2021 National Cross Country at Sehwi Wiaso and this according to Mr Appiah shows, the region boasts of the best when it comes to athletics.
On his part, Hon Simon Osei-Mensah wished the team well and advised the athletes not to rush when the race starts.
He believes, rushing into competitions like this can affect the energy and capacity of an athlete so he will rather want the athletes to focus on the strategies spelt out by their coaches right from the blast of the whistle.
The minister also pledged some financial support to the team and tasked them to deliver the ultimate trophy to put smiles on the face of everyone in the region.
He is confident, this contribution will provide extrinsic motivation to the athletes and their officials to put up impressive performance which will in the end bring glory to the region in the arena of sports.
The Ag. Regional Director expressed his profound gratitude to the Regional Minister for opening his doors to receive the selected athletes and for contributing to the development of sports in Ghana.
The Ag. Regional Director of NSA, Emmanuel Kojo Appiah together with the athletes were accompanied by Madam Linda Adarkwa Yiadom-Admnistrator of NSA, Goloe Eric-Athletics coach at NSA & Patrick Lartey-Ashanti regional athletics organizer when they called on Hon Simon Osei-Mensah.
The 2022 National Cross Country will take place on Saturday, February 26, 2022 at Akim Oda in the Eastern Region.
By: A-R/ PR