HAVING successfully completed their Strategic Implementation Plan (SIP) entitled ‘Commitment, preparation and hard work we know will lead to Olympic medals in Rio de Janeiro’, the Steve Ninvalle-steward Guyana Amateur Boxing Association (GABA) yesterday presented a copy to Minister of Sport Dr Frank Anthony.

According to Ninvalle, GABA has heeded the words of both Dr Anthony and Director of Sport Neil Kumar who called on GABA to compile a plan that will take Guyana’s Simon Purees to the next Olympics set for Rio de Janeiro in 2016.
The SIP was compiled by GABA’s General Secretary Sean Richmond and witnessing yesterday’s handover which took place in Dr Anthony’s office were Kumar, MCYS’ Permanent Secretary Alfred King, GABA vice-president Eustace Cuffy and their technical director Terrence Poole.
“The GABA has heeded those words charged to us and other sports associations by both Dr Anthony and Mr Kumar and compiled a four-year plan that will take us through to the next Olympics and I think that if we should follow this plan, I see no reason why we should not medal in Rio de Janeiro,” said Ninvalle.
Adding that his association has been having the support of the MCYS in almost everything they do, Ninvalle said GABA officials will be putting their shoulders to the wheel to make this plan a success story and called on Corporate Guyana to offer their support as well.
In his remarks, Dr Anthony said he was very pleased to know GABA has seen it fit to complete their strategic outlook for the next four years, adding that other organisations should follow this example, since it is important towards the development of any particular sport in Guyana and the long term outlook for the game.
“Without such a vision, it is very difficult for us to develop a particular sport and that’s why in the context of that, this document is significant. However, I must caution that it is just not about the preparing of a plan, but we must also work with the plan and that’s what is very important.”
Dr Anthony said the MCYS and GABA has had a very collaborative relationship for quite sometime, which saw GABA being assisted with a boxing ring, along with a world-class coach who has been working with local coaches and boxers, calling it a significant investment for the sport locally.
“We are very confident that with the coach’s input we will see improvement in our boxers. We have also converted the Andrew ‘Sixhead’ Lewis gym into a facility where we are having more ongoing training and that has now become the space for boxing where we have more training happening, while we’ve had discussions with Ninvalle to establish some minimum standards at gyms across the country.
“I know they have produced those minimum standards, but now we have to work to ensure that all the gyms and training areas are complying with those standards. By looking at the institutional way of how we are developing boxing, that’s one aspect. Then we will have to look at the athletes and see the kind of training that we need to give them as it is not only about boxing technique.
“It is also about measuring the training and that I know we have been able to put in place. It is also about nutrition and when we have sorted out those issues, we have to make sure they have both local competitions where they will be fighting constantly to improve their skills and also to get down to the overseas competitions,” stated Dr Anthony.
According to Dr Anthony, the systems outlined above are a very comprehensive and systematic approach to boxing and not a one-off wonder, adding that it is just a matter of time before results are achieved, once that approach is embraced.
“When we look at it, it is a very comprehensive systematic approach to boxing. Without such a systematic approach, it is luck and chance and that’s what we need to avoid, so I am very happy that we have this document produced as it gives that blueprint on how we move forward,” said Dr Anthony.
Among some of the issues listed in the SIP which will also see a copy being presented to the Guyana Olympic Association, Guyana Boxing Board of Control and the National Sports Commission are stipends for boxers, some of whom were named and coaches as well.
Local tournaments hosted by GABA such as the Pepsi/Gatorade National Under-16 championship, the ALBA Games and other international tournaments are also listed and budgeted for in the SIP, which Ninvalle said he was very proud to have produced, while giving kudos to Richmond.
According to Ninvalle, with the International Amateur Boxing Association (AIBA) turning its head in the direction of professional boxing next year, GABA’s SIP has already inked the way forward for local Simon Purees.