FOR the first time yesterday, beverage manufacturing and distributing giant Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL), through their Gatorade and Diamond Mineral Water brand of products, partnered with the Guyana Amateur Boxing Association (GABA) to sponsor their Under-16 boxing championship. According to Marketing Director of DDL Sharda Veeren-Chand, her company was pleased to be associated with GABA on this venture, as it provides gainful engagement to the nation’s young people, who are the core base of Pepsi.
“At DDL, we are always looking for opportunities to give back to the communities in which we operate and this programme caught our attention since it provides gainful engagement for our young people who are the core of the Pepsi fan base.
“We are confident that this programme will give our young talent the exposure and development that they need to take them forward in the sport of boxing.”
Referring to such events as the AIBA Games and even the Olympics, Veeren-Chand said Guyana rejoices when its athletes do well at these events, which would not be possible without developmental programmes like the ones being run by GABA.
“For DDL, this marks the beginning of a new relationship with GABA and hopefully one that will continue way into the future and we look forward to working with them on this, as we know and we are confident that we will see some young talents emerge,” said Veeren-Chand.
She said Gatorade, along with Diamond Mineral Water, will be the official drink used by the boxers and officials during the championship, named the GABA/Gatorade Under-16 Boxing Championship.
President of the GABA and Parliamentary Secretary within the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, Steve Ninvalle, said his organisation is extremely overwhelmed that DDL can come on board with them, since in recent times they had to bend over backwards to promote some of their events. He received a cheque for an undisclosed sum.
Ninvalle said an Under-16 championship was held in February at the Andrew ‘Sixhead’ Lewis gym in Albouystown and three more during the year in May, August and December, with one of the three being held in the Ancient County of Berbice.
“After Georgetown, Berbice has the most boxing gyms and with the Association looking to decentralise the sport of amateur boxing in Guyana, we will be hosting the championship which is scheduled for August, in Berbice.
“Already, we have close to 60 participants earmarked to compete in the championship which will be held next month and credit must be given to the 45-year-old Cuban boxing coach Francisco Hernandez Roldan who will be looking at the competitors for this large number of entrants, as GABA seeks to provide a good nursery for the future of the sport here in Guyana,” stated Ninvalle.
He added, “Thanks once again to DDL who gave us a positive response to our request one week after we made the submission, as they have enabled us to continue to bring out within the ranks of amateur boxing the talent that was always there and needed the necessary exposure.”
Also present at the presentation ceremony were tournament director and national coach Terrence Poole and GABA vice-president Eustace Cuffy.