-Khan and Eastman named Best Boxers

PRESIDENT of the Guyana Boxing Association (GBA) Steve Ninvalle yesterday said if he was to grade the work of his fellow administrators of the sport at the amateur level, he would give them a C, since he felt they could have done far more than what was achieved in 2013.Ninvalle was at the time, delivering brief remarks prior to the presentation of awards, when the GBA hosted for the first time, an awards ceremony in seven years at the Andrew ‘Six Heads’ Lewis Gym in Albouystown, which Ninvalle described as the home of amateur boxing in Guyana.
“First of all, let me start by saying ‘Charity begins at home” and having said that I wish to point out that we decided to host this awards ceremony here today, since this gym is known as the home of amateur boxing in Guyana.
Over the past year, we were able to achieve much, undertaking to run off 13 tournaments, which we did. But if I was to give the GBA a grade for the work done in 2013, it would be a C, since I felt we as an Association could have done more” said Ninvalle.
He added, “Come 2014, I think it is only right that we have zero tolerance as it relates to what we plan to achieve, how we plan to achieve it and the way we take to achieve it. I say this because many times we have set out to achieve things and during the course of that journey for one reason or the other, we ran out of fuel and it is not right.”
Ninvalle reminded his executives that being elected as a body to oversee an Association means they are tasked with running that entity effectively and it is not right for them not to give 110% to the respective Association.
“NO, I have not seen 110% during the course of 2013 from my fellow executives of the GBA. So come 2014, my charged to the executives along with the officials and boxers, we will have to work harder, more harder to bring success to the sport” stated Ninvalle.
He said the GBA, through the kind compliments of the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA), has extended to and received confirmation from Barbados, Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago, to send a team to Guyana during month of February for a Goodwill championship.
“We’ve asked them because of the fact that we believe it is important that our boxers have as much international competition as possible. We cannot be in Guyana fighting amongst ourselves all the time and expect to get better that cannot happen.
In this regard, I have spoken to the president of the GOA who asked us to submit a proposal to host this competition here in February and the three invitees has agreed positively to come on board as well with us.”
“In addition, January 14th 2014 would see the return of James Beckles from the International Amateur Boxing Association (AIBA), who has been constantly changing their rules of the sport, here to Guyana to conduct a four day workshop for our referees/judges” added Ninvalle.
While he thanked the officials/judges for their tangible support during 2013, he told the boxers present that the GBA will be having more competitions for them in 2014, including at the international level, to aid with their development.
“Rest your mind assured, we will have much more encampment for you next year. First of all, there is the South American Games being held in Chile in March from 14th to 18th 2014 and we expect to commence the encampment period for that in January.”
Ninvalle took the time to thank the sponsors who partnered with the GBA, whose Technical Director Terrence Poole said they set out to at the start of 2013 and successfully completed the 13 championships, including three GBA/Pepsi/Gatorade Under-16 tournaments which culminated yesterday and they are looking to do the same and even more next year.
Demerara Distillers Limited Larry Wills was on hand to present a few of the awards to the respective recipients and prior to doing so, said his Company was pleased to be associated with the GBA in the three tournaments this year and hopefully will look to have an added one next year.
Meanwhile, Imran ‘Magic’ Khan and Jamal Eastman were named the Best Senior and Junior Boxer respectively and Michael April the Best Youth Boxer at the Awards ceremony, with Khan and Eastman receiving trophies that were donated by the US based Seon Bristol.
Also receiving accolades were Jermaine Craig (Best Referee/Judge), George Moore (Most Discipline Referee/Judge), Wincell Thomas (Best Coach), Kaieteur News’ Michael Benjamin (Best Journalist), Essequibo Boxing Gym (Most Discipline) and Harpy Eagles and Guyana Defence Force, Best Junior and Senior Gyms respectively.
GBA’s Novices, Intermediate and Open Championships winner Desmond Amsterdam was named the Most Improved Boxer, while the Association handed plaques of recognition to the Ninvalle, GOA, Siebert Blake, GDF, Guyana Police Force, Guyana Prisons Service, National Sports Commission and Guyana Boxing Board of Control, for their contributions to the sport.

(By Calvin Roberts )