FRENCH Guyana and St Lucia have supplied the Guyana Amateur Boxing Association with their team list for the upcoming International Goodwill competition in November. The two countries combined are sending a contingent of 26 boxers and officials, and according to GABA president Steve Ninvalle, they are way ahead of the October 25 deadline. St Lucia has registered six boxers and four officials while French Guiana is sending a team of 10 boxers and six officials. Both countries have included female boxers. The St Lucia delegation is being led by its president David `Shakes’ Christopher, a close friend of Ninvalle.
The Caribbean island team includes tough welterweight Lyndel `The Russian’ Marcellin and middleweight Arthur Langelier. Guyanese-born Conrad Fredericks (Hunte) is the coach of the St Lucia team.
So far, GABA has received commitment of participation from eight countries. Those countries are: Anguilla, Antigua, Bahamas, Barbados, French Guiana, Jamaica, St Lucia and Trinidad and Tobago. Last week St Vincent and St. Maarten signalled interest in participating.
The tournament is the brainchild of president of the Guyana Olympic Association K. Juman Yassin and was first held last year when four countries, including the hosts, participated. This year’s tournament would be held from November 26 to 29 at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.
The GABA has budgeted $6.5M to host the event which has the GOA as its main sponsor. The National Sports Commission and Director of Sport Christopher Jones are already on board, Ninvalle disclosed.
Meanwhile, GABA has secured the services of top AIBA referee/judge James Beckles of Trinidad and Tobago, to hold a five-day workshop with local officials leading up to the tournament. Beckles would arrive in Guyana on November 20 and will commence the workshop one day later.