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Ghana\u2019s national cycling team, the Golden Bikers, have struggled to compete at the ongoing African Games due to sub standard equipment, cyclists have said.<\/strong><\/p>\n On Sunday, national champion Michael Naaba withdrew from the cycling competition due to a faulty bicycle.<\/p>\n Shortly after taking off, the tube connected to Naaba\u2019s bike exploded.<\/p>\n With no spare bicycle available to the Ghanaian champion, he was left with no choice than to discontinue the race.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s the same equipment I have been training with. I\u2019ve been training on this highway. Every day after work. Before work too (at dawn),\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut the issue was the tube. Its the same tube I\u2019ve been using for training and I had to use it for the competition because I had no option\u201d he concluded.<\/p>\n In June 2023, Michael Naaba won the 2023 Na\u00adtional Cycling Championship in Ho, Volta region.<\/p>\n Although there are twenty cyclists \u2013 twelve men and eight ladies \u2013 in the team, Naaba\u2019s performance at the tournament and the subsequent event \u2013 Tour du Burkina Faso, made him Ghana\u2019s best bet for a medal in the men\u2019s cycling event.<\/p>\n Naaba who rides for Ac\u00adcra-based FCG Cycling Club is not the only Ghanaian cyclist to have paid for their own bicycles and footwear.<\/p>\n Alberta Adobea is one of Ghana\u2019s self-sponsored national cyclists.<\/p>\n \u201cIf you look at the approved bicycles for this competition, they\u2019re all made with fibre. But ours are all aluminium bikes which are heavier and more difficult to ride.<\/p>\n \u201cSo that gives our competitors an advantage because the fibre made bikes are lighter and easier to handle,\u201d she concluded.<\/p>\n Apart from using old, aluminium bicycles and paying for their own footwear, Ghana\u2019s cyclists had to wear old outfits following the Federations inability to procure fresh ones.<\/p>\n \u201cWe paid for our own footwear, the outfits we\u2019re wearing are all old stuff\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThis was tough because of the challenges with logistics. All the bicycles we used are personal bicycles. We bought them with our own monies\u201d she concluded.<\/p>\n This is a new low for Ghana who have had problems with cycling equipment at major tournaments in the past.<\/p>\n In March 2018, a Queensland based local bike owner, Peter Spencer had to start a fundraiser to procure appropriate equipment for Ghana at the Commonwealth Games in Australia.<\/p>\n He made the move after noticing that Ghana\u2019s cyclists were using substandard equipment at the Commonwealth Games.<\/p>\n Then deputy director at the National Sports Authority, Robert Sarfo Mensah insisted the Ghanaian contingent had no challenges with equipment.<\/p>\n \u201cLet us ignore the bad press about the team. The cyclists traveled with their cycles from the last edition of the Olympic Games and they are not totally damaged as is being reported.\u201d<\/p>\n However, Mohammed Sahnoon, President of the Cycling Federation, knew better.<\/p>\n He, unlike Sarfo-Mensah, a political appointee, felt a sense of duty to his team. Not blind loyalty to whatever. Or whoever.<\/p>\n He knew the difference between what Ghana\u2019s cyclists were using, and what their opponents would be riding.<\/p>\n He is quoted by Ghanaweb.com to have said: \u201cThe bicycles we brought to Australia for the Commonwealth Games are not broken. They may not be up to Australian standards but we brought bicycles.\u201d<\/p>\n The team\u2019s coach was also caught up in Brazil with other engagements.<\/p>\n \u201cWe came here with a coach but he is handling some classifications in Brazil. He will join us soon.\u201d He concluded.<\/p>\n Thus far, neither the Sports Ministry nor the Cycling Federation have commented on the logistical challenges.<\/p>\n