- “If we are talking about helping people, it should be these physically challenged [players] who risked their lives. Instead of going by air, we went by road to try and make Ghana proud”
Three members of the Ghana wheelchair tennis team have sustained injuries in an armed robbery attack on the team on Monday (13 February) in Ogun State, Nigeria.
The athletes were on their way back to Ghana after taking part in the 2023 International Tennis Federation (ITF) World Team Cup Africa qualifiers in Abuja from 7-12 February.
“One of [the robbers] smashed the front-door screen and splashed the glass in the side cheek of one player, Bernard, and he was bleeding,” said the team coach, Philip Plange, sharing his experience with Asaase Sports.
“Other [players] girls sitting close to me also got injured … They started shooting the car.
“The driver gathered courage and drove us away from the scene. He followed some buses with speed and that was what got us saved.”
On arrival in Lagos, the injured players were admitted to hospital, their wounds dressed and “we continued our journey”.
“Traumatised”
The team has informed the ITF as well as the president of the Nigerian Tennis Federation, and they have taken it up.
“The players were traumatised, and these are physically challenged players,” Plange said.
“So, if we are talking about helping people, it should be these physically challenged [players] who risked their life. Instead of going by air, we went by road to try and make Ghana proud.
“Even the bus was hired on a $12,000 loan given by the national tennis federation, and we don’t know how to pay.”
Top ten team
On court, the team placed fourth in the women’s competition and fifth in the male category.
The team is made up of the number one seed Daniel Laryea, Razak Baba Abdul and the national ranking Tour 1 champion, Bernard Yawson.
Also in the team are Bridget Nartey, Zenabu Issah and Stacy Mensah Konadu.
Princeton Kwabena Wiredu
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