By Stephan Sookram

THE Guyana Boxing Association (GBA) continues to be in the vanguard of the sport on the regional scene, firstly with a Caribbean Development Meet last year and now with the announcement of a schoolboys and juniors tournament. President of the GBA, Steve Ninvalle, during a media interview recently announced that the body has put its hand up to host the Caribbean tournament, saying, “Guyana again has jumped into the vanguard and is hosting the schoolboys and juniors tournament.”
“The fact is that the region has not had a schoolboys and juniors tournament. At our Caribbean development association meeting of administrators we thought it only right that we place some focus on the nursery of boxing,” continued Ninvalle.
He noted that already, St Lucia, Barbados and Jamaica are ready to attend with the tournament seeking one more invitee, adding, “Trinidad have already said that they cannot make this tournament because of the fact that they have not budgeted for it.”
“From a personal standpoint, I think it augers well for the development of the nursery and we plan to place a lot of emphasis on the nursery. Just recently Chase Academy offered a scholarship to us for any young boxer coming out of the tournament.
The tournament is a direct result of the Demerara Distillers Limited U-16 tournament, which has been going on for some five years and the GBA boss commended the beverage company for its input and confidence.
In closing, Ninvalle, who is also an Executive Committee Member of the World Amateur Boxing body (AIBA) contended that the fruits of the programme will start showing in four or five years down the line.
The tournament is billed for April 29-30.