From Cape Coast to Paris: Ghanaian referee David Koduah’s journey to the 2024 Paralympic Games

About 10 years ago, David Tweneboah Koduah was walking in the four corners of the University of Cape Coast, mulling over his career path.

Today, he is making the trip to France for the 2024 Paralympic Games and will serve as the only Ghanaian referee during the games.

“In September last year, I got the appointment [and] I called my wife to tell her that I am going to Paris. She said she wanted to come with me but I told her that it is not possible,” Koduah said with a laugh in an exclusive interview with 3Sports.

Koduah is a level 2 licensed referee for goalball, a team sport designed specifically for athletes with vision impairment and one of 23 disciplines in Paris. He first started his journey with hopes of becoming a professional footballer and was a regular for the UCC team. But in 2014, an incident at the Ghana University Sports Association Games changed his career path.

“The visually impaired group came to me in 2014 that they want to have a friendly game with the University of Ghana but they didn’t have any coach to train them. They asked me to train them. I knew nothing about goalball but they provided me with videos and that helped me.”

With a newly acquired passion for goalball, Koduah took referee courses in Ivory Coast and Egypt, attaining his level 2 license two years ago. Since then, Koduah has officiated several goalball interhall games and the International Blind Sports Association African championships in Egypt last year.

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A chance to represent Ghana at the Paralympics represents the pinnacle of his growth. But he has bigger ambitions for the sport.

“I want to work in the line of developing blind sports globally. Once I have the chance to meet experienced people, I can learn from them.

In the next 48 hours, the world watch Para athletes battle for medals at #Paris2024

Among the referees is David Tweneboah Koduah who will be the first Ghanaian referee at the #Paralympics @Bill_Eshun tells his story #3SportsGH pic.twitter.com/FlU4US8g3A

— #3Sports (@3SportsGh) August 26, 2024

The best teams in the world have started battling for the goalball gold medal since August 29th. David Koduah has already officiated in three matches at the Paralympic Games.

The post From Cape Coast to Paris: Ghanaian referee David Koduah’s journey to the 2024 Paralympic Games first appeared on 3News.

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