The Guyana Boxing Association (GBA) continues to fight on the ropes for the safe return of the four boxers stranded in Cuba.
But as the world grapples with the COVID-19 pandemic, air and seaports continue to be closed which further backs the association into a corner.
With the recent announcement that the Cheddi Jagan International Airport will remain closed to non-essential travel at least until June 3, this has further delayed the arrival of the boxers who departed on January 4 on a three-month training stint.
In this regard, President of the association, Steve Ninvalle plans to write to the relevant authorities to explore how best and swiftly the return of the pugilists can be realized.
Said Ninvalle yesterday: We will be writing to the authorities and we do hope that it is favourably considered and we do hope we can have these boxers home in the shortest possible time, this is the best the association can do.”
The quartet of Keevin Allicock, Colin Lewis, Desmond Amsterdam and Dennis Thomas were scheduled to return to Guyana on March 19 before traveling to Argentina for the March 26-April 3 Olympic Qualifiers which had to be shelved.
Those scheduled plans were all thwarted following the pandemic which has claimed in excess of 240,000 lives worldwide including nine Guyanese to date.
Ninvalle added “Of course we (the association) are not the ones making the decisions on when the borders will be re-opened and we have to accept that the closure of these borders is for the safety and well-being of all Guyanese and we respect that.
But what we have read that there is a system whereby we can write to the National COVID-19 Task Force and those letters will be dealt with on a case by case basis, so I plan on writing to them on Monday.”
As expected, Ninvalle noted that frustration has stepped in on the boxers who are away from their homeland and loved ones.
“There is nothing definitive that we can tell the boxers while they try to keep their chins up, but they are understandably frustrated since they do not know when they would return, we do not know if after June 3 if there would be another extension.
This is out of our hands and the authorities have to do what is best for Guyana and to keep the population safe but this is not a situation that the boxers are trained for, but we try as much to communicate with the team to keep their chins up, but it is a difficult period for all of us.”
Director of Sport Christopher Jones shared that the return of the boxers is a top priority for the National Sports Commission but the borders are not open as yet and there is only so much he can do.
It was also noted that the boxers are currently unable to have the uses of some basic necessities which has further added a strain on their shoulders.
Jones told this publication yesterday that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will soon dispatch hampers to Cuba for the employees of the Guyana Embassy and assured that the boxers will also be in receipt of hampers also. (Emmerson Campbell)
