Tesano Dolphins talk expectations ahead of trip to Germany

They swept the most number of medals at the Loya Accra Open swimming championship. Tesano Dolphins will be participating at the 42^nd Schwimmfest in Arnsberg, Germany and will hope to make an impact on the international stage.

In the past week, Youth and Sports Minister, Elvis Afriyie Ankrah, paid a working visit to the nation’s premier swimming club Tesano Dolphins. The Minister observed the normal training regime of the swimmers and subsequently held discussions with the management of the team.

AllSports earlier paid a visit to the Tesano Sports Club, observed a two-hour training session and spoke to some of the swimmers.

– Kwaku Addo

The current national record holder for 50m freestyle, with a time of 25.9s, is 16-year old Kwaku Addo of the Ridge School. He says he expects to be even better by the time he’s 19.

“Some people say my time is not as high compared to the world standard. I’m a second behind the time for the world record holder. It’s a gradual process. I’m still working on it. In Germany, I expect to win a medal or two. Training has been hectic but I’m doing my best. And I expect to pull it off.”

– Ophelia Swayne, Tesano Dolphins

Ophelia Swayne, a 17-year old student of the Roman Ridge School, also has high expectations going to Germany.

“Training has been hard and very intensive. We’re putting in our all and we hope to get the results in Germany. In my first participation, two years ago, I won gold in butterfly. This time, I’m aiming for four gold.

We’re doing the best with the little we have. We appeal to corporate bodies to come aboard and help us with sponsorship.”

– Zenobia Addo

The younger sister of Kwaku, 14-year old Zenobia Addo who also attends Roman Ridge School, is aiming for gold.

“This will be my second time in Germany, and I’m hoping to win gold in butterfly and 50m freestyle. I have dropped my time but I’m still working on it. In 2011, I won Bronze in (butter)fly but this time, it’s gold I aim to win.”

Coach of the Dolphins, Abbiw Jackson, has three of his wards in the team. The younger one, 9-year old Kow Assifuah Jackson of Soul Clinic Int. School, will also be in the team travelling to Germany.

– Kow Asafua Mensah Jackson

“The first time I went (20011), I won four gold medals and one silver. The second time (2012) I couldn’t get a medal. But this time I believe I will bring some home.”

– Abeiku Jackson

Kow’s older brother, 13-year old Abeiku Jackson also of Soul Clinic Int. School, also has high expectations.

“In the first year I went to Germany (2011), I won four gold medals. In the second year (2012), I won seven gold and one silver. This year, I have been able to drop my time, so my expectations are very high.”

– Paa Kwesi Abbiw Jackson

13-year old Paa Kwesi Abbiw Jackson who also schools at Soul Clinic Int. School and says he looks to do better in his age category.

“I have been able to drop my time significantly, so I’m looking to win gold medals in all the events I will participate in.”

 

Posted on May 11, 2013

 

Tesano Dolphins continue rigorous training ahead of 42nd Schwimmfest in Germany

After their dominant display at the Loya Accra Open swimming championship, swimmers of the famous Tesano Dolphins have now turned their sights to the tournament which they will travel to participate in Germany.

Coach of the swimming contingent, Abbiw Jackson, had always maintained that the meeting Accra was preparatory grounds for him and his team.

“This was a good competition. This is a stepping stone for an upcoming competition in Germany,” coach Jackson has said in an interview with AllSports.

– Assistant coach Jonathan Amoako -Atta overseeing a training session

– Coach Abbiw Jackson issuing instructions during training

AllSports visited the team as they trained in the Tesano Sports Club pool over the weekend. With his assistant, Jonathan Amoako-Attah, running the morning training session, coach Jackson oversaw the physical drills and corrected mistakes in techniques of his squad.

He spoke to AllSports about their visit to the German Embassy and preparations so far.

“The administrative side of the process has been good. In fact, the visit to the Embassy was fantastic. We didn’t have any trouble there at all.

“In terms of training, my kids look like they are getting to meet their targets.

“Financially, we’re still having challenges. Sponsorship has not come in as well as we expected. Unfortunately, this means we may have to trim down our contingent. This will also mean that we will have to lower our medal expectations if that happens.”

The team needs a lot financial support as Coach Jackson tells this reporter that each swimmer requires USD 3,000 to register for the competitions and send them to Germany.

– (Fourth from right) Ophelia Swayne, Delphine Shooter, Zenobia Addo, Selinam Shabashie, Tesano Dolphins in Germany, 2011

The Tesano Dolphins will be representing Ghana at the 42^nd Schwimmfest in Neheim-Husten, Germany, where about 800 to 1,000 swimmers will compete. This is one of the 10 best club-based age-categorised competitions and will have 45 to 50 clubs from all over Europe.

Africa will be represented by two countries; Tesano Dolphins of Ghana and Ikoyi Club of Lagos, Nigeria.

If The Dolphins are able to send their delegation of 20 swimmers, they will aim to win 20 medals.

 

Posted on May 8, 2013

 

Tesano Dolphins coach appeals for funding for swimming in Ghana

After another clean sweep of honours at the Loya Accra Open swimming championship, the coach of the famous Tesano Dolphins has made an appeal to corporate Ghana to invest in and support the sport of swimming.

The Loya Accra Open which was successfully held on Saturday 27^th April at the Legon Swimming Pool, has been described by many as arguably the biggest organised national swimming championships yet in Ghana.

Swimmers from the Tesano Sports club improved on their times in the various competitions and also set records.

– Tesano Dolphins, flaunting their medals

Notable among them are 16-year old Kwaku Addo and 17-year old Ophelia Swayne, both of the Roman Ridge School. Their proud coach, Abbiw Jackson, who also has two of his wards in the team, is happy with the improved times and believes they will do well in their next international competition.

– Lincoln Community School, showing their medals

“This was a good competition because we had, what I deem as Ghana’s second strongest team, the Lincoln Community School, coming in full and giving us a run for our money,” he said in an interview withAllSports.

“But as you can see, anywhere we competed with them we came out better.

“This is a stepping stone for an upcoming competition in Germany. Most of my kids hit the targets we set for them. Kwaku was to hit 25.90s so we work progressively to 25.10s for the competition. And he hit the target. We are on course.

“With a little more training and focus, Kwaku can drop to 25.10s by the time we go to Germany.”

– Coach Jackson also threw more light on the prestige of the upcoming competition.

“This is a competition that is touted to be among the eight best categorised club competitions in the world, with about 45 clubs from all over the world participating. It’s just us [Tesano Dolphins] from Ghana and one from Nigeria, who are representing Africa.”

Coach Jackson, a trained lawyer and an administrator, who works with the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), also made a passionate appeal to the corporate bodies to support the sport.

“Clearly, amongst our swimmers are some of the finest in the world for their age. But these swimmers will go nowhere if we don’t get some financial support. I’m urging all those who love the sport of swimming. We have top swimmers in Ghana, invest some money in them.

“Don’t give money to us [coaches] and think we’re going to squander it. Let’s use it in developing the sport. Let’s use it in paying for the kids’ airfare and logistics so they can have strong competition outside this country. And I bet you, swimming will overtake a lot of other sports in this country,” he concluded.

– Kow Asafua Jackson leads Ghana’s entry at the 41st Swim Fest in Heheim, Germany, 2011

– Ghanaian parents travelled to support their wards in Germany (Swimming)

– Ghanaian parents travelled to support their wards in Germany (Swimming)

The Tesano Dolphins will be representing Ghana at the 42^nd Schwimmfest in Neheim-Husten, Germany, where about 800 to 1,000 swimmers will compete. This is one of the 10 best club-based age-categorised competitions and will have 45 to 50 clubs from all over Europe.

Africa will be represented by two countries; Tesano Dolphins of Ghana and Ikoyi Club of Lagos, Nigeria. The Dolphins have a delegation of 20 swimmers and are aiming to win 20 medals.

They however need a lot financial support as Coach Jackson tells this reporter that each swimmer requires USD 3,000 to register and send them to Germany.

 

Posted on April 30, 2013

 

Tesano Dolphins’ Ophelia Swayne seeks to win gold in Germany

– Ophelia Swayne, Tesano Dolphins

Tesano Dolphins’ Ophelia Swayne won five gold medals at the recently organised Loya Accra Open swimming championship.

Ophelia is a 17-year old student of Roman Ridge School and was Ghana’s best performer at the 2011 All Africa Games in the female category.

Even with a tight schedule of schooling and training, Ophelia has clocked impressive times in various events. She is looking forward to making an impression in the upcoming international meet in Germany.

“It was really hard and very competitive. My wins didn’t come easy. I had to work really hard for them,” Ophelia said in an interview with AllSports.

“The intensive training programme I did this month has really paid off. This is just a stepping stone for us because we’re going to Germany next month.”

Ophelia swept five gold medals at the Accra Open and is looking to better her one gold medal-winning feat.

“This will be my second time in this international competition. My first time, I won gold and I was really proud of myself. Germany is not really easy. It’s a top competition. Clubs from all around the world come to compete. And people from that side can really swim.”

Showing a good sense of focus, Ophelia said that her focus was not on medals but on ‘dropping’ her time.

“I didn’t really focus on medals today. I was focusing on dropping my time. I actually did well. I dropped my time in some strokes. But I was disappointed because I couldn’t drop my time in the stroke I intended to.

“But not to worry. More opportunities will arise and I will work hard to do that.”

Ophelia also sent out a message for support for the sport of swimming.

“We really appreciate the support from Loya and others. They’re doing really great for us. That’s a good thing. If we had more people supporting us, we would do much better. I’d like to appeal for more sponsors.”

– (Fourth from right) Ophelia Swayne, Delphine Shooter, Zenobia Addo, Selinam Shabashie, Tesano Dolphins in Germany, 2011

Ophelia Swayne will be one of the Tesano Dolphins who will represent Ghana at the 42^nd Schwimmfest in Neheim-Husten, Germany, where about 800 to 1,000 swimmers will compete. This is one of the 10 best club-based age-categorised competitions and will have 45 to 50 clubs from all over Europe.

Africa will be represented by two countries; Tesano Dolphins of Ghana and Ikoyi Club of Lagos, Nigeria. The Dolphins have a delegation of 20 swimmers and are aiming to win 20 medals.

Posted on April 30, 2013

 

Young swimmer Kwaku Addo looking to win gold in Germany

– Kwaku Addo, Tesano Dolphins

Tesano Dolphins’ Kwaku Addo was aiming to win two gold medals but he swept five gold medals at the recently organised Loya Accra Open swimming championship.

The 16-year old student of Roman Ridge School has only been swimming for less than two years but has been described by his coach, Abbiw Jackson, as a wonder kid who can win medals for Ghana.

Kwaku, in an interview with AllSports, was beyond himself and was glad to have exceeded his set target coming into the Accra Open and reducing his time to 25:9s.

“I feel great. It’s a privilege. I’m honoured. It feels so good,” he said, trying to catch his breath.

“My competitors are really fast and to beat them is a real honour.

“I came just to win two gold medals but I ended up winning five gold medals.”

Kwaku Addo has been undergoing hard, feverish training in preparation for an upcoming international competition in Germany and is looking to win some medals.

“My expectation is to do better than I did the last time. I hope this hectic training that we’ve been enduring will pay off.

“The last one I went to was in 2011, also in Germany. I couldn’t get to win anything and that was horrible. So this year, I hope to win as much as I can get.

Kwaku Addo will be one of the Tesano Dolphins who will represent Ghana at the 42^nd Schwimmfest in Neheim-Husten, Germany, where about 800 to 1,000 swimmers will compete. This is one of the 10 best club-based age-categorised competitions and will have 45 to 50 clubs from all over Europe.

Africa will be represented by two countries; Tesano Dolphins of Ghana and Ikoyi Club of Lagos, Nigeria. The Dolphins have a delegation of 20 swimmers and are aiming to win 20 medals.

Posted on April 30, 2013

 

Records broken at the Loya Accra Open swimming championships

– Loya Accra Open Swimming Championship

Arguably the biggest organised national swimming championships yet in Ghana, the Loya Accra Open was successfully held on Saturday 27^th April at the Legon Swimming Pool.

With participation from a number organisations and individuals, records were set a broken at the event with a high level of competition.

The biggest swimming club in Ghana, Tesano Dolphins, from the Tesano Sports Club were in attendance. Also participating was Lincoln Community School, French School, British Int. School, Association Int. School and UG Basic School.

Ophelia Swayne, who was Ghana’s best performer at the 2011 All Africa Games in the female category, and Kwaku Addo, both of the Roman Ridge School, were two of the stand out names on the day as they swept gold medals in most of the events in which they participated.

The two young Ghanaians also dropped their personal best times, much to the delight of their coach, Abbiw Jackson, of the Tesano Sports Club.

In the Boys G4 50m Freestyle, Kwaku Addo was able to make a time of 25.98s when he came in with a seed time of 26.38s.

In the Girls G4 50m Backstroke, Ophelia Swayne recorded a time of 34.56s when she came in with a seed time of 38.25s.

Coach Abbiw Jackson, who is in charge of the Tesano Dolphins, said that he long term aim is to prepare these young swimmers for the international competitions and Olympic games.

“This was a good competition because we had, what I deem as Ghana’s second strongest team, The Lincoln Community School, coming in full and giving us a run for their money,” he said in an interview with AllSPorts.

“This is a stepping stone for an upcoming competition in Germany. Most of my kids hit the targets we set for them. Kwaku was to hit 25.90s so we work progressively to 25.10s for the competition. And he hit the target. We are on course.

“With a little more training and focus, Kwaku can drop to 25.10s by the time we go to Germany.”

Williams Kyei, Secretary General of the Ghana Swimming Association, said the winners would participate in the FINA International Swimming events, including the African Juniors in Egypt and the World Juniors in Dubai.

He was also very impressed with the turnout of events on the day.

“This has been a successful meet beyond expectation. Records have been broken, some swimmers have dropped times, some have improved their personal best, and new talents have also been discovered.

“We are happy and we are looking forward to developing these talents that have been unearthed today.”

AllSports will continue to bring you more news concerning swimming in Ghana.

 

Posted on April 29, 2013