A number of sports administrators and former athletes have been recognized by David Granger, President of the Cooperative republic of Guyana on the occasion of the 49th Republic Anniversary of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, and have been identified to receive national awards later in the year.
Among those identified for national awards are President of the Guyana Olympic Association, Kalam Azad Juman Yassin and Garfield Wiltshire, the current Treasurer of the Guyana Olympic Association and a former Caribbean men’s singles squash champion.
Also named in the list of His Excellency David Granger, MSS, are National cricket captain Leon Johnson, Leslie Black, Hilbert Foster, Lawrence Sparrow Griffith, Eion Jardine, Terrence Poole and Nasrudeen Mohamed.
Johnson, the Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) player and father of three, has led Guyana to four successive regional West Indies Professional Cricket League (PCL) Regional Four-day titles in the last four years and may very well record Guyana’s fifth in 2019.
An elegant left-hander by trade, Johnson has represented Guyana in 107 first-class matches since making his debut against the Leeward Islands in 2004. He also featured in 67 list ‘A’ matches and 14 20/20 fixtures.
-Award unexpected
Poole, who is the National Boxing Coach, told Stabroek Sport yesterday that the award was unexpected.
“To be honest with you, it wasn’t expected but I am pleased to have received this award, it is truly an honor,” Poole said.
The 55-year-old who says he has been involved in boxing for 34 years stated that the medal symbolized his contributions over the years.
He, however said that he was particularly surprised to be recognized by the country.
Poole comes from a boxing family and has three brothers who have participated in the squared circle.
When Poole joined the Guyana Defence Force in 1982 he was advised by his mentor, Lennox Daniels to box while he was part of the 13 Guard Battalion, an elite group of Officers.
In that year, Poole dominated the inter-youth level and was afforded the opportunity of representing Guyana where he became champion in 1987 when he won gold in the Caribbean Championships in the light heavyweight division. Over the following years, Poole recorded one bronze (1998) and three gold (1990, 1993, 1994) medals in the tournament.
He also won bronze medals at the Pan American Games (1991) and Central American and Caribbean Games (CAC) in 1993.
In 1994, Poole managed a quarter final showing in the Commonwealth Games which closed off his youth career.
According to Poole, Daniels saw his potential and recommended him into coaching with his first outing being in 2002 to the CAC Games in El Salvador with current Interim World Boxing Association Super Middleweight Champion, Lennox Allen and Paul Lewis who won bronze at the event.
Poole, in 2013, would gain a diploma from the University of Semmelweis, Budapest, Hungary, the same year he was nominated for the National Sports Commission Coach of the Year award.
In 2008, Poole found success with a silver medalist Clevon Rock at the Youth Commonwealth Games in Pune, India and he also ventured to the Commonwealth Games in 2010 and 2014.
In 2012, he represented Guyana in the World Championships and also advanced his credentials by becoming a three-star coach, the highest level of coaching from the International Amateur Boxing Association in Almay Kazakhstan.
2017 saw Poole’s troops earning three Gold and one silver in the CAC Games as well as winning the 2018 edition which was held in Guyana.
According to the new awardee, he remains vocal on the call to award more athletes once they do well.
Poole explained that it gives the athletes something to work for and “if you want them to excel you need to reward them, if they don’t be rewarded how you can expect them to produce,” questioning “what they would be working hard for?”
Meanwhile, referee/judge Jardine, who like Poole was awarded the Medal of Service, told Stabroek Sport last night that it was an honour to be recognized for his contribution to boxing in Guyana.
“It’s an honour to be recognized for my contribution to the sport of boxing in Guyana, “ said Jardine adding that he has been involved in the fistic sport for some 44 years.
“I see it as a sacrifice to Guyana’s sport,” said Jardine adding…”I will readily do it again. I eat and sleep boxing.”
Jardine, who started his career in the amateur ranks in 1974, spent 11 years officiating in the amateur ranks before moving up to the professional circuit.
To date, he said he has officiated in 12 World Title fights and over 2000 amateur fights. (Compiled by Romario Samaroo and Royston Alkins)
