Team Guyana to start encampment tomorrow

THE seventh edition of the Winfield Braithwaite Caribbean Schoolboys and Schoolgirls Boxing tournament is scheduled for Guyana from August 16-18, at the National Gymnasium, Mandela Avenue and two nations will make their debuts.

According Technical Director of Guyana Association (GBA) Terrence Poole, a meeting was scheduled for yesterday with the parents and the encampment will commence today at the ‘six heads’ Gym in Albouystown.
“We have much more participation, and we see that a lot of the fighters have improved throughout the years who would have competed in younger competitions and at younger age groups in the event.

Boxers like Ezekiel Bancroft, Skakquain James, Ryan Rogers, and Keon Britton came through from the schoolboys’ category but will now compete as juniors.

There is a lot of talent in this team. Other teams from Guyana in this event would have had talent, but this one would have had much more competition and is definitely more seasoned,” added the GDF and National Head Coach.

Seven Countries will send teams, including Antigua and the Dutch nation of Suriname which will be participating for the first time.
Since Suriname became the 14th Member State of the Caribbean Community in 1995, they have become the first South American nation to participate in this tournament.

Suriname’s team consists of four youths, five junior boxers, two females, and one senior boxer are a part of the squad and will be accompanied by Head Coach, Dino Nasim, while Anthony Nekrui will be her assistant. Grace Sahdoe is the team’s Caregiver.

Meanwhile, after retaining the coveted OECS Boxing Championship title, the St. Lucia Boxing Association is preparing a team of ten athletes to travel to Guyana.

The team with boxers ranging from ages 9-17 includes Herve Charlemagne, Orlando Monrose, Kirt Kirton, Elroy Canchon, Joshua Rene, Lammend Alexander, Nervon Mederick, Devon
Sealy and Denzel Stephens.

President of the St. Lucia Boxing Association(SLBA), David “Shakes” Christopher, said the opportunity streamlines with the strategic objectives of the SLBA to give exposure and ring time to young
boxers.

He added that given the heavy investment by the Government of St Lucia in our National Schools Boxing Programme and the lessons to be learnt from the Guyana programme which is far
advanced, this tournament gives us an opportunity to access our boxers and appreciate what is needed to take them to the next level.

National Head Coach, Conrad Fredericks, will share administrative duties with Arthur Langillair, a former top St Lucian pugilist. The Head of Delegation is Shannon Lebourne who will share managerial duties with SLBA President, Mr. David Christopher.

President Christopher will also be attending a Special Meeting of Federation Presidents of Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana, Bahamas and the wider Americas to discuss boxing development and plans for the staging of the Caribbean Boxing Championships to be held in St. Lucia in December.

The St. Lucia Boxing Association is confident the athletes will perform at the highest level, given their training, preparation and recent tournament success.