By Carwyn Holland
Top local athletes, basketball star Akeem Kanhai, bodybuilder Sylvon Gardener and sprinter Alicia Fortune are the new faces of the popular Italian Sportswear Company FILA In Guyana.
The sportswear was launched Friday at Giftland OfficeMax the sole authorized distributor in Guyana.
Kanhai, who captained Guyana’s Junior National Team at the 2009 Inter-Guianas Games in Suriname was top of the picks for the spots giant.
Kanhai, who according to a release has secured 11 Most Valuable Player awards in competitions, is also a top football player in the mining town of Linden and captained Linden’s youth team in cricket.
Veteran bodybuilder Sylvan Gardner, who captured the GABBF senior championship twice, won the Central American and Caribbean Bantamweight title four times and was Mr. Muscle Mania Super Body 2008 in New York is the second of three elite athletes sponsored by FILA.
Sprinter and bodybuilder Fortune, who was recently crowned Miss Body Fitness at this year’s Hugh Ross Classic is the lone female selected to be sponsored. Fortune was awarded the 2007 Sportswoman of the Year title and won a gold medal at the 1996 Hampton Games.
The FILA brand was established in 1911 and is one of the few authentic sports brand worldwide.
According to a release from the company, they are committed to creating and marketing products that enhance an individual’s pursuit of sports as a way to experience greater personal fulfillment.
The release further stated that FILA mirror the values of a winning sports team: desire for success, team spirit, commitment, enthusiasm, creativity and fun.
FILA is the sponsors major athletes worldwide, including number 10 ranked tennis player Kim Clijsters, winner of 37 WTA titles. There were also sponsors of top world tennis players Bjorn Borg, Boris Becker, Monica Seles; basketball star Grant Hill and Jerry Stackhouse; and Formula 1 racer Michael Schumacher, among others.
The Sportswear company is actively supporting athletes and sports in countries which they market their products. Guyana is FILA’s newest market through Giftland Office Max and it wasted no time in identifying the three top Guyanese athletes who will be receiving support and sponsorship for a period. The athletes will be supported with sport gear, clothing, shoes, financing for tournaments and a signing bonus.
The Italian range of ladies and gents sports clothing and shoes are currently available for sale at Giftlands with new arrivals expected in time for the summer.
According to Giftland the FILA sales and marketing representatives could not be present for the launching in Guyana yesterday after they were denied entry visas for Guyana.
