… Ninvalle says the largest amount under his watch

By Faizool Deo

THE Guyana Olympic Association (GOA) has contributed a whopping US$15 000 (over G$3.1M) to the Guyana Boxing Association (GBA) to offset expenses of four boxers and two coaches who are scheduled to leave this Sunday for a three-month training stint in Cuba, with the ultimate hope of qualifying for next year’s Olympics.

Although a Guyanese boxer has not qualified for the Olympics since 2006, all parties involved are optimistic that this current crop will lead Guyana to glory.

The boxers are Keevin Allicock (a two-time current Caribbean champion), Desmond Amsterdam and Colin Lewis (former Caribbean champions) and Dennis Thomas (a Caribbean two-time silver medallist).

The quartet will display their skills learnt from Cuba at the Olympic Qualifiers, which is scheduled from March 26 to April 3, 2020, in Argentina.

To send the four boxers and two officials (Terrence Poole and Sebert Blake – awaiting release from GPL) on the three-month spell, the GBA had to raise approximately US$31 000 (over G$6.4M). Fortunately, GOA and National Sports Commission were fully on board with the venture.

Earlier this month, NSC, through its Director of Sport Christopher Jones, handed over a cheque of $1M to the boxing association with the promise of a further $1.5M either in January or February, while president of the GBA, Steve Ninvalle, noted that the boxing association would contribute the rest of funds needed.

At a simple press conference yesterday, at the Law Offices of K.A. Juman-Yassin, the GOA president noted that he was impressed with Allicock’s improvement after his time in Cuba earlier this year and he and his executives felt that it was the correct move to assist in sending the four boxers for training.

“In going to Cuba, the exposure will be immense, the range and variety of sparring partners; we don’t have that in Guyana. The discipline, the medical checkups, everything about the programme is much better than what we have here.”

Yassin added that he is confident that the three-month training stint would help the boxers.  He noted that from the inception he was supportive of local coaches travelling with the boxers.  He said that the coaches would be able to enhance their skills and hopefully implement what they have learnt, which in the long-run should enhance the sport locally.   

“In this exercise for three months, two of our senior coaches will benefit and no doubt that benefit will pass on to the youngsters … Once they (the four boxers) work hard and make that sacrifice, I sincerely believe that they will be successful.”

According to Ninvalle, the cheque of US$15 000 is the largest contribution received under his watch as GBA head.

“In my tenure, it would have been the largest contribution that we would have received from anyone, from any entity, any supporter. I want to say heartfelt thanks to Mr Yassin.”

Ninvalle also indicated that the GOA president, through his insightfulness and knowledge of the sport, has been instrumental in bringing the Caribbean Developmental Championships to fruition – an event that has evolved into the Caribbean Championships.

“It is through his initiative, through his support, his urging and his pushing that we have been able not only in Guyana, but also in the Caribbean, to see boxing move to higher heights of development.”

Yassin, who has served as head of the GOA for over two decades, highlighted the importance of collaboration and thanked the NSC for its support.

“It has to be a combination of resources, resources from the government, resources from the private sector, resources from the GOA and resources from individuals … it is also the aim for the GOA to work with the government, regardless of which government is in power….”

Vice-president of the GOA, Dr Karen Pilgrim and Technical Director of the GOA Poole also spoke of the importance of the venture and their confidence in the boxers.

Guyana has been outstanding in boxing at the regional level, but Michael Parris’s 1980 bronze medal at the Moscow Olympics remains our only medal to date at the top sporting event.