If there was any bad publicity coming out the Guyana Amateur Boxing Association (GABA), the actions of the three absconding boxers paled all into insignificance.
Three of Guyana’s most seasoned Simon Pures, absconded to the United States of America (USA) whilst returning to Guyana from India after competing at the XIX Commonwealth Games. This would be an incident that the GABA executive wished could be banished to back of their minds, never to be remembered, or more appropriately, never happened.
Clevlon Rock, a 2008 Junior Commonwealth Games silver medallist, last year’s Central American and Caribbean (CAC) bronze medallist Dexter Jordon and Guyana’s amateur middleweight champion Devon Boatswain were described as unpatriotic and later banned for life by the GABA after the disciplinary committee met late last year. There was more bad press soon after Guyana’s contingent returned from the CAC Games in Puerto Rico with the suspension of Guyana’s other medallist Ray Sandiford. He was suspended for four months, a suspension which ended on December 17 last before GABA’s Champion of Champions tournament.
The Guyana Police Force (GPF) fighter and Commissioner of Police Henry Greene questioned the suspension by the GABA’s disciplinary committee. There were verbal punches thrown but the GABA stuck to its position that Sandiford knew of his wrongdoings and the association was exercising its constitutional mandate. Apart from those grey areas, amateur boxing for the last year was success story especially when one considers that it was almost on a hiatus for some time. The association was able to attract some corporate sponsors and it had the blessings and support of the Sport Ministry and National Sports Commission (NSC) in its corner.
The year can be described as a challenging one and this year it will be no different. Last year amateur boxers participated in the monthly Pro-Am card, which started last February. There were also six GABA-organised tournaments.
President Steve Ninvalle and his executive, despite the challenges, will be looking to learn from their mistakes and continue building on their successes.
Another high point of last year was the commencement of the under-15 programme. For any sport to develop there has to be a strong nursery and this programme will continue this year at the Sixhead Gym in Albouystown.
Another fillip for the GABA was the completion of most of its tournaments with great assistance coming from the corporate community and the Sport Ministry and NSC. Further, the ministry donated a collapsible boxing ring and that formed part of the GABA’s programme to decentralise the fistic sport.
The appointment of Wencel Thomas as national coach also aided the association’s vision to resuscitate the sport in the amateur ranks after a long period of inactivity. Thomas, after his appointment and visits to different parts of the country, had stated last year that many of the young Simon Pures were not technically sound and a lot of work would have to be done to get them to a level where they can compete with more experience competitors abroad.
On the other hand, the road to London’s 2012 Olympics will continue and the association should be indentifying a cadre of boxers to receive specialised training. Additionally, there will be an intense year especially as it relates to international competitions.
There will be the Women, Youth and Junior tournament in Turkey in April, then the World Junior Championships in Astana, Kazakhstan, from July 22-31. The Commonwealth Youth Games will be held in the Isle of Mann from September 7-13 and the Pan American Games will be held from October 13-30 in Mexico and these championships are on the radar of the GABA.
The qualifiers for the Pan American boxing championships are scheduled for March however no date has yet been announced.
Apart from that, it is the stance of the executive to have Trinidadian James Beckles conduct a training programme for the referees and judges. Officials have shown the enthusiasm and therefore it would be necessary for them to be constantly upgraded. The programme will run from January 26-30.
Boxers should also benefit from the electronic scoring system, which is obtained at international meets. Stabroek Sport learnt that there have been talks with president of the Americas Boxing Confederation Dr. Domingo Solano and the GABA will be in receipt of the equipment before the end of March.
