By Kizan Brumell
Six members of the 10-member Guyana Amateur Boxing Association (GABA) team for the Caribbean Amateur Boxing Association (CABA) Games to be held in Trinidad left Guyana this morning for the twin-island republic.
The other four members of the team including female boxer Mandessa Moses, coach Terrence Poole and two male boxers left yesterday.
The championships, which start tonight and end on Friday, will be held at the Chaguaramas Convention Centre.
Manager/coach Carl Franklyn yesterday expressed confidence in the team.
“I think the boxers are prepared both mentally and physically for the tournament and I have faith that they can medal,” Franklyn told Stabroek Sport.
He added that he was satisfied with the preparation of the boxers leading up to the tournament and that this competition will be used as a yardstick to evaluate the boxers ahead of their participation at the upcoming Junior Commonwealth Games in Pune, India in October..
On the question of Moses, Fanklyn said he had a look at her before she left for Trinidad and Tobago and feels that she has a fair shot at landing a medal.
“She has a few glitches in her boxing that we did not get to correct before she left but I expect her to fight well even though this is her first international competition,” he reasoned.
Chief Executive Officer of M&M Snackette, Manuram Mookaram, has donated a pair of boxing shoes valued at G$20,000 to Stefan Gouveia.
Mookaram added that upon the team’s return from Trinidad he will donate three pairs of boxing shoes for the boxers attending the Junior Commonwealth Games.
On the other side of the ring, referees and judges are to benefit as they are scheduled to attend an examination enabling them if successful to represent CABA and become continental referees.
Meanwhile the GABA would like to thank all sponsors who made a significant contribution to allow the team’s participation such as the Guyana Olympic Associa-tion, DeSinco Trading, Ansa McAl, Scotiabank and Caribbean Airlines.
The team reads: Herlando Allicock (Flyweight), Rhondel Douglas (Bantam-weight), Cleavon Rock and Stefan -weight), Akeem Alexander (Lightweight), Moochand Sankar – (Pinweight) and Mandessa Moses (Lightweight).
Manager/Coach Carl Franklyn and assistants Terrence Poole and James Walcott.
