
Executive management members of the GFDA, Mr. Philip Quaye (1st right) and Mr. Mathias (2nd right) presenting the winners’ trophy to David Opkoti, captain of LA 1sWin Ultimate Club.

The Ghana Flying Disc Association (GFDA) has held a youth Ultimate Frisbee tournament for youth in Accra at the Nungua Town Park.
The event, which was dubbed the “Jim Heneghan Youth Ultimate Competition 2022” attracted the attention of community members and youth within Nungua and its environs.
It was also aimed at exhibiting the exciting game of Ultimate to athletes within the community and beyond. The youth from the La 1st Win Ultimate Club won the competition. Some of the youth also received awards for their outstanding performance.
The president of the GFDA, Desmond Kwame Mantey, explained that the competition was in line with the association’s plan of promoting and developing disc sports in Ghana.
“The event was held to exhibit Ultimate frisbee to community members and youth within the area. The event was also held to honor Dr. Jim Heneghan, the Ultimate Frisbee coach at the John Hopkins University for his immense support towards the development of the Ultimate Frisbee game in Ghana,” Mr Mantey stated.
He revealed that Jim Heneghan raised funds to help purchase 225 pieces of GFDA-branded discs. These discs, he noted, have been very instrumental to the development of the game in Ghana.
He added that discs are currently been used in all eight regions where the GFDA is currently present including Bolga in the Upper East Region of the country.
Objective
The GFDA president indicated that the event also allowed organisers to throw light on some key principles inherent in Ultimate Frisbee, which has the potential to enhance the development of community youth in diverse ways.
He said the youth were schooled on the spirit of the game, its essence, and its impact on their lives in the long term.
“The event also created a platform for the youth to enhance their physical, mental, and psychological health. As an advocate of the UN SDGs and an official partner to the UN World Urban Campaign, the GFDA strongly believes that sports has the potential to trigger change within urban communities by creating opportunities for inclusive youth development,” he added.
Mr Mantey reaffirmed the association’s commitment to continue to stage similar events in giving the youth the opportunity to showcase their skills and excel in disc sports.
Impact
He also disclosed that it is GFDA’s plan to form national teams at all levels to represent Ghana at World Flying Disc Federation-sanctioned events.
“These competitions will certainly contribute to the unearthing, development, and nurturing of youth athletes for the task ahead. GFDA is highly optimistic that the disc sports games have the potential to contribute to youth and social development of the country,” he stressed.
GFDA plans 2023, he said the association would be looking forward to enhance the technical abilities of coaches, trainers and organizers of disc sports games in the months ahead.
He called on all stakeholders including sponsors and partners to come on board and help promote disc sports in Ghana to create opportunities for the country’s young girls and boys.
