– Realisation of ‘Home for Boxing’ in three years is priority

STEVE Ninvalle returned as president of the Guyana Boxing Association (GBA) unopposed, following their Elections and Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Monday at the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA) Headquarters in Liliendaal.

President of the GOA, Kalam Juman-Yassin served as Returning Officer for the elections.
First vice-president, Dr Marissa Parris, daughter of Guyana’s only Olympic medallist, Michael Parris, along with Seon Bristol (assistant secretary/treasurer), are the new members of the GBA’s executive Committee, while everyone else would have previously served alongside Ninvalle.

Major Gordon Nedd is the Second vice-president, while Carl Graham is the third vice-president. Stacy Correia is the Association’s secretary and Dexter Paterson is the treasurer.

Ninvalle, who also serves as a vice-president of the Americas Boxing Confederation (AMBC), highlighted that realisation of the proposed ‘Home for Boxing’ is top priority on the GBA’s agenda.

According to the returning GBA president, while a location is still being deliberated, a timeline of three years is given for the completion of the first-of-a-kind in the English-speaking Caribbean.

The approximately $120M facility, when completed, will have a 20-room dormitory, kitchen area, and a state-of-the-art gym.
In the meantime, GBA recently started the resuscitation of the Andrew ‘Six Heads’ Lewis Boxing Gym in Albouystown, which Ninvalle said is being done by the National Sports Commission (NSC) and ‘friends’ of boxing.

Several gyms across the country are also earmarked for infrastructural development in 2022.

“We also intend on fostering a stronger relationship with the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, and GOA,, because without their support we would not have been able to accomplish all the things we did, so that will be a priority,” Ninvalle related.He further added, “We will look to provide more opportunities and refresher courses for referees and judges. At this point, we are scheduled to have one referee/judge and an ITO at the AMBC Championships next year.”

As it relates to the return of competitive boxing, Ninvalle revealed that GBA is eyeing the month of February, as they seek to identify and prepare boxers for the AMBC championships next year.
Ninvalle also noted that the returning GBA executives were challenged to work on decentralising the sport, which he said is to unearth new talent, particularly females.

The International Boxing Association (IBA), formerly AIBA, is keen on seeing more female participation in the sport, both in the ring and in an administrative capacity.

“We have two females on our executive committee, and a number of women serving in other capacities. The IBA under president Umar Kremlev is making this mandatory, which I fully support,” Ninvalle said.

A new National coach will also be announced, according to Ninvalle, and a new plan for development will be formalised.

Ninvalle thanked the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Charles Ramson Jr, for his support since coming into office last year and noted that the GBA is looking forward to their continued relationship in working together to grow and develop the sport of boxing in Guyana.

Yassin also came in for some praises from Ninvalle, for supporting all the GBA’s initiatives.