Ghana’s Olympic bronze medalist, Samuel Takyi, recently disclosed his decision to depart from Ghana’s amateur boxing team, citing safety concerns as a key factor in his departure.
Takyi, who announced his intention to transition to professional boxing on Tuesday, May 7, 2024, expressed discomfort with the atmosphere within the team.
He revealed that upon his return to the Black Bombers, he encountered hostility from certain individuals, leading to a sense of unease during training camps.
Takyi further elaborated that his inability to secure a spot in the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris was partially influenced by alleged threats of violence directed towards him by a teammate, Jonathan Tetteh.
These threats contributed to his decision to pursue a career outside of Ghana’s amateur boxing scene.
“A lot happened when I went to Italy, and I think I have some explanations to do because it was a result of these issues that I believe affected my quest to qualify for the Olympic Games,” Samuel Takyi said.
“When I returned to the team, there was an issue that occurred, and someone on the team threatened to stab me,” the boxer narrated on Happy 98.9 FM.
“This issue happened when we were preparing to go to Italy. I had a friend record my training, and this teammate asked him to stop. So we had a standoff, and he threatened to stab me. This same guy, Jonathan Tetteh, accused Coach Asare of selling his fight in Italy.
“Since that day, I became extra careful whenever I was in camp,” Samuel Takyi said.
Samuel Takyi became the third Ghanaian in history to win a bronze medal in boxing at the Olympic Games held in Tokyo in 2020.