–    …Ninvalle happy with success
THE Guyana Amateur Boxing Association (GABA) brought the curtain down on their skills and upgrade seminar for local referees and officials yesterday.
Carried out by Trinidadian International Boxing Association (AIBA) certified Referee Judge Fitzroy James Beckles, the seminar started on Wednesday January 26th at the National Gymnasium and was brought to a fitting closing with the presentation of certificates to the twenty one participants at the Water Chris Hotel. While here, Beckles had a chance to see some of what was taught to the officials at last Friday’s GBBC/GABA ProAm at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall during the featured amateur bouts.
The closing ceremony was attended by Director of Sport, Neil Kumar, who said he was pleased with the rout taken by the GABA to first develop the sport from an administrative and technical stand point which will in turn be transformed to the ring.
Guyana’s lone Olympic medal was claimed in the sport of boxing by former Bantamweight Champion Michael Paris at the 1980 Moscow Games and it is on that note that Kumar said  he will personally make sure that the support is given to the GABA for them to seek another acclamation at the 2012 London Olympics.
Meanwhile, GABA President Steve Ninvalle said that he was pleased with the outcome of the seminar and said that it’s the start of many to come and also pointed out that the event will be made annual, since it’s imperative to keep the local officials up to date.
He further mentioned that  GABA will be on a drive to recruit more female officials to the sport and this was a challenge which was also issued by Kumar.
Ninvalle also believes that with better referees and officials, their should be better fighters since it will also give the fighters a chance to upgrade themselves and in the long run the sport will benefit and see significant growth.
The Ministry of Culture Youth and Sports and especially De Sinco Trading came in for esteem thanks from Ninvalle.
He said that while the Government of Guyana of Guyana through the Sports Ministry has always been supportive of the GABA, the seminar would not have been possible without the noble support from De Sinco Trading.