THE GUYANA Boxing Association (GBA) under the stewardship of Steve Ninvalle, yesterday , launched their first Coaches Seminar at the Andrew ‘Six Head’ Lewis gym in Albouystown, which according to the GBA’s Technical Director Terrence Poole, will be held over the duration of six sessions.
Heartening to see present at yesterday’s opening ceremony, were two female coaches in PauletteNurse and Pamela London, amongst the 19 participants who will be taken throughtheir steps by Poole and the GBA’s headcoach Francisco

Hernandez Roldan.
In his welcome remarks, Ninvalle said it was heartening to see the response shown by the coaches from around the country, in supporting the initiative, while calling on them to tap into Roldan’s knowledge.
“You being here tell me that you are quite serious of taking amateur boxing in Guyana to another level. Mr. Roldan our Cuban coach has been here for quiet sometime and we are actually trying to use this as a medium to maximize whatever knowledge he can pass on to you.
We do not know how long we will have him and it is better we use whatever knowledge he has, so that when the time comes for him to leave us, we can have more competent coaches here in Guyana, serving the amateur boxing community to the best of your ability.”
Ninvalle urged the participants to grasp as much as possible from Roldan, who in his own rights is a Master Specialist in Boxing for the sport of high performance, holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Physical Education and Sport, bringing with him 23 years experience as a Coach in a Centre for High Performance and an additional 12 years experience as a boxer.
“You will be leaving here with more knowledge than you came here with, so I urge you to grasp as much as you can, and take this back to your respective gyms, making your gyms and boxers much better” said Ninvalle.
He applauded the two females present amongst the participants, adding that the GBA is trying their utmost best to put amateur boxing on the pedestal where it needs to be, saying it is not an easy task, but they are not giving up the fight to do so, while he thanked Roldan for his presence and willingness to impart his knowledge to the participants.
According to Poole, the participants will receive certificates at the end of the seminar, while reminding them that the GBA cannot move a One Star Coach to Three Star, since the International Amateur Boxing Association (AIBA) does not permit such.
“Those new participants, who are doing this course for the first time will be given a Successfully Complete Certificate and the established coaches a Certificate of Participation, with AIBA handing out the Promotional Certificates, whenever one of their courses is being held,” said Poole.
The former amateur pugilist, who has been giving yeoman service to the GBA since hanging up his boots, informed that the Seminar will be done both as theoretical and practical, while he informed the coaches to be prepared for a practical session today, following a theoretical session, yesterday.
Even though his English was minimal, Roldan applauded the coaches for their turn out and said that not only Cuba, but Guyana also has a wealth of talent in the coaching department of the sport, while wishing the participants all the best.