Liquid Sports Ghana has hosted an awe inspiring 4th edition of its sports mentorship programme dubbed “Making it Happen seminar” to equip students from Aggrey Memorial Zion and Mfantsipim Schools to combine academics and sports to achieve their aims in life at the Assembly Hall, Mfantsipim School on Saturday, 21st July in Cape Coast.

Given the cast of experienced speakers and the interactive nature of the event, the two hour session provided participants fascinating insights into the lives of sportsmen and women and the sacrifices they make to attain prominence and stay in the game.

Opening the event, Mr. Stephen Yeboah, an Assistant Headmaster in charge of Administration at the Mfantsipim School, reflected over the significance of the mentorship event in the lives of the students and expressed his happiness that his school is the first school to host the Liquid Sports Ghana event in the Central Region.

“We are very proud that our school was chosen as the first school in the Central Region to host this event and we think it is something that contributes to development and the potential of young people in Ghana,” he told a filled to capacity Assembly Hall.

The host of the event, Ghanaian sports journalist Erasmus Kwaw said that the event organisers recognise the important role education plays in a person’s life and advised the students to make a conscious effort to take their schooling seriously and make the most of the opportunities they have been offered in life.

From selling kerosine to support his parents to earning scholarship to study at University of California, Santa Barbara USA

From selling kerosine to supporting his parents to earning a scholarship to study at University of California, Santa Barbara USA, former USA Major League Soccer and Columbus Crew midfielder Fifi Baiden, wowed the audience with his inspiring story.

Baiden shared his ‘grass to grace’ story of how he earned a scholarship to study at the Right to Dream Academy before moving to the USA on a student-athlete scholarship through hard work and determination.
He told the students about his life metaphors for success which he termed as the “triple Hs”: Humility, Honesty and Hunger.”

Patrick Yaw Obeng: Disability is not inability

Patrick Yaw Obeng, multiple para wheelchair All Africa Games medalist, advised the students not to lose hope in life but always strive to achieve their God given objectives in life no matter the circumstances they find themselves in.
Patrick inspired the students by recounting how his left leg got amputated following an accident in Togo in 1986. He said, he needed 5 major surgeries over a 5 year period to save his life.

He added that his faith life was thrown out of gear as a result of the accident but after recovering from this major shock, he took to para sports and has no ill feelings towards God and anybody for his disability.

Currently, Mr. Obeng is highly regarded as one of the founding fathers of para wheelchair sports in Ghana with a rich experience which spans over 20 years.

Contributing to the discussion, a Coach at the University of Cape Coast Physical Education Department, Mr. Charles Obempeh, who is also an old student of the Mfantsipim School, stressed the need for would-be professional sportsmen and women to work hard to achieve stellar results in their careers. He added that several opportunities abound for Senior High School students in the tertiary institutions most of whom are currently offering student-athlete scholarships.

One of the event participants, Emmanuel Asiamah commented, “It was very good programme that opened my eyes to the opportunities around me. The speakers spoke to the needs of the listeners. The questions were well answered.”

Meanwhile, young enterprising Mfantsipim School middle distance runner Aziz Mohammed was mentioned for special praise by the event organisers on the day. Mohammed punched above his weight to clinch third place in the men’s 1500m final at the ECOWAS U-20 Athletics Championships held at the Cape Coast stadium last month.

For the about 500 students who attended the event, many left the event with a feeling of satisfaction and having a clear idea what they ought to do to succeed in life. The programme was brought to an end after the closing prayer by a Cape Coast based minister of the gospel Rev. J.K. Hudson.

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