SECRETARY of the Jamaica Boxing Board of Control (JBBC) Leroy Brown yesterday responded in the positive to president of the Guyana Boxing Association (GBA) Steve Ninvalle’s invitation to have a team of boxers visit Guyana for a Goodwill Series next month, by listing the names of the visiting team.Carl Grant will execute the duties of Head Coach for the Jamaicans, with Godfrey Collins as the Coach, while the JBBC has named four boxers who will compete in the Goodwill Series which punches off on February 14, 15 and 16, under their watch and these are Patrick Sahadeo (Lightweight), Anthony Clarke (Light welterweight), Kestna Davis (Welterweight) and Michael Gardner (Middleweight).
Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, St. Lucia and Barbados were all sent invitation letters by Ninvalle sometime last year and of the quartet, only Barbados has so far replied in the negative, since they have two ongoing competitions at that time, while St. Lucia and T&T are to make a decision, with St. Lucia looking to give their decision by Tuesday.
However, an elated Ninvalle told Chronicle Sport yesterday, the positive word and listing of the contingent received from the JBBC was a boost for the GBA, since it has been sometime since a Jamaican contingent had traversed these shores to compete at the amateur level.
“Jamaica has not been here for sometime and the GBA eagerly anticipates their arrival for this Goodwill Series, which will get underway on 14th, 15th and 16th February, at a venue to be named shortly.
I must say how happy I am to have heard from the JBBC, not only their acceptance of our invitation, but also the naming of their team which comprises four boxers, a head coach and coach for the Goodwill Series which the GBA will be using as a training ground for several purposes,” said Ninvalle.
According to Ninvalle, the GBA has named a squad of boxers who will go into training not only for the Goodwill Series, but also several other Championships on international soil, such as the Commonwealth Games and Cardova Cardin Championships in Cuba.
“Other than this upcoming Goodwill Series, the GBA has their eyes set on sending a team to the South American Championships which will be held in Chile from 13th to 18th March of this year, so this Goodwill Series will serve as warm up for our boxers. In addition to that, it will also give our team of coaches and technical staff, the opportunity to assess our boxers,” said Ninvalle.
The hard working GBA head said the squad of boxers will undergo an encampment period in the not too distant future, as the GBA intends to leave no stones unturned in ensuring success not only at the Goodwill Series, but the other tournaments they envisage to compete in this year.
Written By Calvin Roberts