Relay team’s success triggers support systems for athlete preparation questions

By Papa Kwamena EGYIR

Ghana’s men’s 4x100m relay team has qualified for the 2027 World Athletics Championships in Beijing after competing at the World Athletics Relays in Gaborone, Botswana. While the result marks another international success, it has once again brought attention to concerns about the systems supporting the athletes.

Questions over preparation and logistics have been raised following comments from sprinter Abdul-Rasheed Saminu, who pointed to gaps in training and institutional support despite the team’s consistent global performances.

The debate has been further intensified by a late change to the squad involving Edwin Gadayi, who replaced Ibrahim Fuseini after ticketing issues prevented Fuseini from travelling.

Gadayi reportedly had to make a bus journey from Kumasi to Accra to catch a last-minute flight to Botswana, raising concerns about the efficiency of travel arrangements for elite competition.

These developments highlight broader, recurring challenges within Ghana athletics, particularly around athlete camping and pre-competition preparation, areas that officials have previously admitted remain problematic.

The concerns are not isolated. In 2023, Ghana withdrew from the men’s 4x100m relay at the World Athletics Championships due to injuries and the absence of reserve athletes, exposing weaknesses in squad depth and contingency planning.

Even with these setbacks, Ghana’s relay team has maintained a strong international presence, qualifying for four consecutive World Championships and two straight Olympic Games, and narrowly missing out on a podium finish at the most recent global meet.

Still, the pattern of logistical and structural challenges continues to raise fears that without urgent reforms, the team’s talent and consistency may not translate into major championship medals.

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