Bukom has traditionally stood out as the beacon of a popular combat sport in Ghana. boxing.
The suburb of the capital boasts a roster of many iconic names in Ghanaian boxing history such as Amuzah Nelson and Ike Quartey to name but a few and its streets are filled with plenty of boxing fans, young and old.
But somewhere in the heart of the city, another sport is beginning to seep into community life. Basketball.
In Jamestown, just a few kilometers from the Bucom boxing arena, athletes from the local team “Dunk grassrootsβ go to the basketball court near the lighthouse twice a week to shoot hoops. For them, basketball has a special place in their hearts.
Jacob Okai, who is a player on the team, expressed his love for the game, “I love basketball, if I play basketball, I like the way my body sweats and feels and I feel the heat more than boxing and anything else .”
Another named Roy Kotei says he started playing basketball during his high school years.I have been playing basketball since JHS, I love playing sports and I don’t want to get hurt if you come here. is it boxing or football or combat sports. Here is a team, they brought basketball and I joined and have been playing ever since.β
In terms of intentions, these kids dream of playing basketball professionally.
“I also have my personal training where I train at the valley beach to improve my skills. I hope to use basketball to encourage and help people in Jamestown,β added David Mensah, the Dunk Grassroots frontman.
Although boxing has long been the pride of Boucom, the seed of basketball has seemingly found fertile ground in the hearts of the youth.
This unknown sport brings the community together one bounce of the ball after another.