African Games 4x100m gold medalist and 2019 Ghana’s Fastest Human 100m winner Benjamin Kwaku Azamati was given a heroes welcome by a cross section of students at the University of Ghana Legon and the school’s administration led by its Vice Chancellor.
The 21-year old ran a splendid back-straight as Ghana’s 4x100m quartet of Sean Sarfo-Antwi, Martin Owusu-Antwi and Joseph Paul Amoah stormed to a surprise gold medal ahead of favourites Nigeria at the recent African Games in Morocco.
The former Presbyterian Boy’s S.H.S (Legon) student capped a stellar season by clinching the ultimate at the Ghana’s Fastest Human 100m sprint subsequently.
The exploits of the relatively younger and inexperienced sprinter who punched above his weight in a breakthrough season which saw him winning gold medals at both national and international levels of competition, has not gone unnoticed by sports pundits.
Azamati, a level 300 Bachelor of Science in Marine Science, stood in an open car, holding the trophy he recently won at the Ghana’s Fastest Human to cheers from his fellow school students and university workers.
He was paraded through some of the principal streets of the University campus including from the UG Sports Directorate, Banking Square to Mensah Sarbah Hall, School of Business to Volta Hall, Commonwealth Hall and ended at the School’s Registry where a management meeting was being held. They were met by the Vice Chancellor Prof. Ebenezer Oduro Owusu.
The Director of Sports at the UG Sports Directorate Dr. Bella Bello Bitugu spoke highly of Azamati as a relatively unknown athlete who had come through the ranks of the University system and blossoming to greatness within a short space of time. Dr. Bello introduced the mother of Azamati, Madam Faustina Azamati, to the schools top management and Mr. Rex Brobbey the founder of the Ghana’s Fastest Human event as ones who had helped shape the young career of the athlete.
The Vice Chancellor told the gathering that the story of Azamati is one of the great examples of the impact of the University of Ghana Policy on the Admission of Athlete Students (UGPAAS), adding that the current President of the Ghana Athletics Association Prof. Francis Dodoo is also a member of the University’s management. He admonished the media to highlight stories such as that of Azamati to enhance the image of the university and the educational system in Ghana and not be overly sensational in their reportage of news about universities.
Meanwhile, students of the Mensah Sarbah Hall, Azamati’s hall of residence, held placards highlighting their fellow students breakthrough season which saw him winning the 100m final at the UG Inter Halls Athletics competition 2018 and 2019; UG-Ghana Athletics Association Open Championships; a finalist in the 100m at the West African University Games at Port Harcourt; 100m gold medalist at the African Universities Olympics; 100m personal best of 10.32s and a semi finalist at the World Universities Games in Napoli; a personal best equaling 10.32 in the 100m and a gold medalist in the 4x100m at the African Games; and winning the Ghana’s Fastest Human in Kumasi.
Azamati is due to compete as a member of Ghana’s 4x100m relay team at the upcoming IAAF World Championships at Doha 2019 from 27th September to 6th October, 2019.
ROLL OF HONOUR:
Inter Halls in 2018 and 2019- 100m and 200m silver
Mini-Ghana Universities Sports Association Games (GUSA-100m and 4x100m silver 10.61s
African Universities Olympics Egypt- 100m 1st and 4x100m silver
April- UG-GAA Open Championships 100m-10.52s
Cape Coast Ghana’s Fastest Qualifier 10.50s
West African Universities- 10.71 Finalists-November
World Universities Games- 10.32s Semi finalists
West African Zone 2- Medley 100m 200m, 300m and 400m-
False start in 100m final
Burkina Faso Grand Prix 10.43s Gold
African Games 4x100m GOLD; PD equaling 10.32s (PB)
