A six-man Jamaican team comprising four boxers and two coaches have confirmed their participation in the International Goodwill Competition here next month.
According to president of the Guyana Boxing Association (GBA), Steve Ninvalle, “Jamaica has confirmed its participation in our International Goodwill Competition on February 14th to 16th.
By way of a letter signed the the General Secretary of the Jamaican Association, we were informed that Jamaica will be sending a team of six persons, four boxers, a head coach and a co-coach”.
The competition is scheduled to be held at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.
During a telephone interview with Ninvalle yesterday, he also disclosed the names of the Jamaicans arriving.
“The Head Coach is Carl Grant while the co-coach is Godfrey Collins”.
Patrick Sahadeo (lightweight), Anthony Clarke (light welterweight), Kesana Davis (welterweight) and Michael Gardner (middleweight) are the pugilists that will be in action.
The team is scheduled to arrive on February 14 and depart three days later.
Ninvalle also revealed “we have sent out invitations to Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados and St Lucia, Barbados has indicated that they will not be able to attend this competition since they have two competitions around the same time.
However we are waiting official words from Trinidad and St. Lucia but regardless the competition will be going on and serve as preparation for our boxers that will compete at the South American Championships in March in Chile.”
GBA has selected a squad of boxers who have already started training and encampment will follow soon.
Ninvalle continued “for this International Goodwill Competition, the GOA has played their part in making this a reality and I thanks them for that and byTuesday we should know exactly how many countries will be participating.”
Twenty four local boxers have commenced training for the February tournament, the South American Championships and the World Youth Championships in Bulgaria. They are: Imran Khan and Dennis Thomas of the Guyana Police Force Gym. Clairmont Gibson, Eon Bancroft, Bert Braithwaite, Desmond Amsterdam, Trevon King, Ron Smith, Omar Charles, Mark Marshall, Markember Pierre of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Gym.
Stephan Chan, Dawani Lampkin, Junior Henry and Septon Barton of the Forgotten Youth Foundation (FYF) Gym. Stephan Gouveia and Orin Bancroft of the Harpy Eagles Boxing Gym. Stephan Nedd, Anandram Dharamraj and Jason Barker of Republican Gym and Michael April and Travis Fraser of Tiger Eye Gym
The females shortlisted are Dwon Thompson (GDF) and Theresa London (FYF).
The pugilists will be under the watchful eyes of Poole, Sebert Blake, Wincel Thomas and Cuban coach, Francisco Hernandez Roldan. (Emmerson Campbell)
