Shakul Samed is on course to compete at the Olympic Games as the third brother of two Olympians to have participated at the showpiece.
The youngster is part of three Ghanaian amateur fighters, namely Sulemanu Tetteh and Samuel Takyi, to have qualified for the Olympics in Tokyo later this month.
Samed’s story has been nothing but inspirational having seen his two elder brothers – Bastie Samir and Issa Samir compete at the 2008 edition in Beijing.
Boxing journey
The journey has been a long one for Samed whose dreams had always been to have a chance to compete at the Olympics just like his brothers.
“It has been an emotional journey for me and I am very blessed to have made it to this stage of my career.
“This is the biggest stage of an amateur fighter’s career and I am pleased to have followed in the footsteps of my elder brothers,” Samed told Graphic Sports.
Ghana’s boxing history can mostly be chased from the Ga tribe of Accra but Samed and his two brothers are Dagombas from the Northern Region.
The 22-year-old light heavyweight fighter had always wanted to chase a dream in football but his father, Issa Samir Snr, a former boxer turned artisan introduced him to the sport.
He was introduced to renowned trainer, Kwasi Ofori Asare of the Wisdom Boxing Club, a man who led his brothers to the Olympics in 2008 and the coach of the Black Bombers.
The plan was to get him out of the street despite Issah Snr’s inability to finance his education.
“It has been a very fruitful journey for him since he was brought to me by his father,” said Coach Asare.
“He is a very hardworking fighter and I believe he has a lot to achieve from the sport if he continues with his training harder.”
Ambition
Samed has one ambition competing at the Olympics and that is to win a medal for Ghana, something his brothers failed to do.
That is going to be a very difficult task but the boxer believes it’s achievable with hard work.
“My biggest dream is to end the Olympics with a medal and it is something I have been working towards.
“I feel motivated by my brothers doing their best and I want to write their wrongs by winning a medal,” said Samed.
However, what becomes of Samed when he exits the Olympics next month? That is one question that continues to linger on the minds of boxing lovers considering the fall of his brothers.
Since 2008, the Samir brothers have turned professionals but failed to make any meaningful strides but Samed believes he could change the narrative.
He wants to commence a professional career immediately after the games and to work towards a world title dream.
“I have plans of winning a world title and that could be the focus after the Olympic Games.
It has always been my dream to fight at the highest level and to win a world title so I will work towards that after the games,” he said.
By Bernard Neequaye
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