Mr Kofi Iddie Adams, the Minister for Sports and Recreation has commended the National Sports College for coming up with a training on Sports Psychology for coaches and other sports personnel.
He said sports psychology had over the years contributed hugely to the success of athletes, hence motivating them to put up their best performances.
The Minister gave these comments during the opening of a four-day Certiicate Couse in Sports Psychology organised by the National Sports College in partnership with the National Sports Authority at the Accra Sports Stadium.
He said it was high time coaches appreciated the role of psychology while training athletes, which was a stepping stone towards achieving greater heights in their career.
” We have instances where some get stage fright because they had not played or performed in the presence of huge numbers or sometimes not competed with noble or international athletes and their presence alone sometimes make other athletes feel intimidated.
If trainers understand and add this to the training, they would have prepared their athletes all round to perform to the maximum level,” he said.
He further cautioned the media on the effects of negative reportage in affecting performances of athletes.
The maiden Sports Psychology course seeks to rekindle a strong sense of self-belief and confidence among athletes, coaches and sports administrators.
Mr. Bawah Fuseini, acting Director General, NSC said the course was a testament of something great unfolding.
He said the certificate course would not only help athletes improve on their performances but rather aid administrators in psyching sportsmen and women to perform well.
“This is the first of its kind and it is not going to end here. We are going to continue and other equally important courses that we will be organising at the winneba sports college. Ghana has reached a point where performances and talents alone will not get us to where we want to be.
What has been missing is the psychology part of the sport and that is what the college, with massive support from the ministry and the NSA, wants to do,” he added.
Mr. Bawah said the college would give an opportunity to individuals who did not join the maiden edition of the Sports Psychology course to participate later in the year.
Mr. Yaw Ampofo Ankrah, acting Director General of the National Sports Authority expressed excitement having partnered the National Sports College to begin the course.
He said the introduction of the course was the beginning of something great which was yet to unfold.
GNA
