Bulldogs look to forge ties in Ghana
Jon Ralph, Herald Sun, October 14, 2008
THE Bulldogs are investigating ways to tap into the massive Ghanaian population in the western suburbs.
The new connections could lead to small groups of Bulldogs travelling to Ghana to use elite training facilities, and the club hosting talented sportsmen from that country.
The Dogs are already looking at recruiting pathways in Fiji, and hope they might one day host a talent search of young teens from Ghana.
Champion boxer Azumah Nelson yesterday met the Bulldogs coaching group and tutored players Daniel Cross and Malcolm Lynch at Whitten Oval.
But the Dogs are determined to turn the meeting into more than a picture opportunity with the former world champion.
The western suburbs have an African population of 15,000 people and just over half of them are from Ghana.
Bulldogs football manager James Fantasia said there were myriad opportunities to connect with Nelson's Azumah Nelson Foundation.
"He has got some big plans and is raising some good money and has a great profile in his country. There are a lot of common links and is a good chance for us to look at how we might tie in," he said.
"There is the potential opportunity to have some joint ventures. We want to identify some talented youth who can come over for some educational opportunities, but also for a talent search."
The Dogs say it is realistic to hope their players might visit Nelson's elite training centre, -- now under construction.
Just as Essendon has sent small groups of players to countries such as Japan, the Dogs want to expand the horizons of their players during pre-season camps.
"We have a five-year plan along those lines and it's about life education as well. This year we are off to Arizona but smaller groups will travel over the next few years," Fantasia said.
A group of Bulldogs coaches will soon take off on an international study trip, taking in Leeds University, a Germany sports university in Cologne and a professional rugby league club in Headley.
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