Almost every adult in one way or the other has enjoyed the bloom of his youthful days, in fact those days you never discovered who you really were but thought the little you had transformed a greater part of your life.
Recently, several leaders have either been ridiculed or commended when their past life chapters were read to them or come to light in a certain way. Some were footballers turned Presidents, Ministers, Members of Parliament, Lawyers, Journalists, and Doctors. Others were athletes turned Chief Executive Officers, Musicians, Actors and Actresses, and Bankers among other professions.
Sometimes, the question I pose to myself and other people is “What were you then and why have you changed now?” Growing up, I probably was something else but now I am another thing else.
This is what the founding member of the National Democratic Party (NDC) Flt. Lt. Jerry John Rawlings, once a gallantry soldier and President of the nation, revived in my mind when he stressed his interest in a sporting discipline like boxing.
Meeting the former Bayern Munich player and Black Stars defender, Samuel Osei Kuffour, at his Ridge office, former President Rawlings revealed what apparently might have been his long-hidden secret to the fanatics of Sammy Kuffour and media personnel that trooped into his Ridge premises.
Aside his administrative duties, Ex-President Rawlings might someday veer into having a bout with Ghana’s heavyweight Champion, Azumah Nelson, in what he said is his lifetime attraction.
“Boxing is something that I have always loved” was few of the words that President Rawlings used to stimulate the strong and strengthen the weak that have a penchant for boxing.
Was he a boxer then? Maybe yes or Maybe no but Mr. Rawlings was surely a fanatic of boxing. Flaunting his experience with world renowned boxer, Mohammed Ali, President Rawlings obviously might have had some boxing tutorials from the invincible Mohammed Ali.
No wonder many call him “Dr. Boom”; with his strong muscles which can fit into the sporting discipline “boxing”, I think “Dr. Boom” is the least expression to modify Ex-President Rawlings’ boxing skills.
If he were in the ring, maybe Manny Pacquiao would not have been blowing his own trumpet because there would have been somebody to knock him out in the fourth round. Call it exaggeration but President Rawlings really has strong ties with boxing and boxing personalities such as Mohammed Ali and Azumah “Zumzum” Nelson.
Flt. Lt. Jerry John Rawlings could not have exhibited his passion for boxing better if he had not groomed people to step into the “shoes” he never wore. One of the handiwork of J.J Rawlings was Azumah Nelson who but for the support from Ex-President Rawlings would not have risen into the boxing arena.
Rawlings’ boxing foresight motivated Azumah Nelson to take the lead over several International boxers to become a world boxing icon.
“With Azumah, I noticed that he was very talented but he was very tenacious, very disciplined hardworking sportsman. He took his boxing extremely serious. He was quick; he was fast; he was strong and he used to come train with us, you know, the Air force boys."
“And during the time we were about to recruit, there was one occasion where he almost wanted to join in as well, you know, the Air force. And I said no, no, no; am not gonna recruit you because I could see a potential world champion in him and I was afraid if we recruit him, he would develop a slight routine mentality which could affect that spontaneous hard fighting spirit of his. I needed him to maintain it. Yes, I think that’s one good judgment I made about him and he went on to prove us right.” he recounted with nostalgia as he went down memory lane.
Anyway, people should not be extremely surprised when they see their receptive erstwhile President, Flt. Lt. Jerry John Rawlings, in the ring exercising his muscles to give the first blow for the bout to begin.
As usual we must all rumble and rally behind him as Mr. Rawlings envisions another emergence of Azumah Nelson in Ghana.
By Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/X fm 95.1/Accra/Ghana.
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