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SIX of Guyana’s amateur boxers, namely Dennis Thomas (middleweight), Eon Bancroft and Ron Smith (welterweight), Stefan Gouveia (lightweight), Imran Khan (bantamweight) and the lone female in the midst, Theresa London, yesterday inked their names further in the annals of the Guyana Boxing Association (GBA), formerly known as the Guyana Amateur Boxing Association (GABA). Five of the six boxers were present in the office of GBA president Steve Ninvalle, to receive their first monthly stipend, which was made possible, thanks to the efforts of the K. Juman-Yassin-led Guyana Olympic Association (GOA), in the lead-up to the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janiero, Brazil.
According to Ninvalle, Gouveia was absent from the official handing-over which was witnessed by GBA’s Technical Director Terrence Poole and National Coach Francisco Hernandez Roldan, as he had official business to take care of.
“We at the GBA feel pleased to be doing this handing-over this morning to the boxers, thanks to the Guyana Olympic Association and Bakewell, who provided vouchers for the boxers.
Certainly, we are looking to add more boxers to the list, as it would help us to have a look at more of them for international competitions, but in order for us to do so, we would need the support of Corporate Guyana, the business community and even the Government of Guyana,” said Ninvalle.
Meanwhile, Roldan in an invited comment showered praise on the GBA and GOA for the initiative which he sees as a step towards strengthening Guyana’s amateur ranks, whose boxers are in constant training under his watch at the Andrew ‘Six Head’ Lewis gym.
“The training of the boxers is coming along just fine and I can say they are showing signs of improvement in their technical, physical and even tactical areas and this initiative is more welcome, since the boxers will be happy to come out and train more often.”
Asked to comment on the impact the remuneration would have on his career, Khan, who went to England just before the 2012 London Olympics to fine-tune his art with the hope of gaining a place at the Games, said it is most welcome.
“My Dad has been giving me the support before this and now that I am receiving this, it will help ease him a lot, while I can look forward to my training more earnestly and intensely as I wish to make the team for the Olympics in Brazil.”
Apart from their vouchers and stipend, the boxers will also benefit from monthly food hampers, the first of which will be handed over sometime during the course of the month.
According to Ninvalle, Gouveia was absent from the official handing-over which was witnessed by GBA’s Technical Director Terrence Poole and National Coach Francisco Hernandez Roldan, as he had official business to take care of.
“We at the GBA feel pleased to be doing this handing-over this morning to the boxers, thanks to the Guyana Olympic Association and Bakewell, who provided vouchers for the boxers.
Certainly, we are looking to add more boxers to the list, as it would help us to have a look at more of them for international competitions, but in order for us to do so, we would need the support of Corporate Guyana, the business community and even the Government of Guyana,” said Ninvalle.
Meanwhile, Roldan in an invited comment showered praise on the GBA and GOA for the initiative which he sees as a step towards strengthening Guyana’s amateur ranks, whose boxers are in constant training under his watch at the Andrew ‘Six Head’ Lewis gym.
“The training of the boxers is coming along just fine and I can say they are showing signs of improvement in their technical, physical and even tactical areas and this initiative is more welcome, since the boxers will be happy to come out and train more often.”
Asked to comment on the impact the remuneration would have on his career, Khan, who went to England just before the 2012 London Olympics to fine-tune his art with the hope of gaining a place at the Games, said it is most welcome.
“My Dad has been giving me the support before this and now that I am receiving this, it will help ease him a lot, while I can look forward to my training more earnestly and intensely as I wish to make the team for the Olympics in Brazil.”
Apart from their vouchers and stipend, the boxers will also benefit from monthly food hampers, the first of which will be handed over sometime during the course of the month.
