Nazar ‘Shell’ Mohamed, proprietor of Mohamed’s Enterprise sat down with Stabroek Sport (SS) to discuss his establishment’s recent partnership with the Guyana Mixed Martial Arts Federation (GMMAF), a collaboration that is expected to aid the local development of the discipline. The entire transcript of the exclusive interview is featured below.
SS: Mohamed’s Enterprise has a storied past with regards to its contributions to sport, especially football. What were the primary reasons for supporting the GMMAF and MMA in particular?
NM: “Over the past three decades of the existence of Mohamed’s Enterprise, we have sponsored and supported all areas of vocation/sport activities and individuals locally and abroad at all levels of the respective disciplines. While it is known for us to be a principal sponsor of the annual football tournament, our reach goes beyond cricket, table tennis, swimming, track and field, and weightlifting/bodybuilding.
“While we are cognizant of the fact that the MMA sport is budding in Guyana, we feel very strongly that the GMMAF and MMA will create the avenue for school children and youths who are invigorated with a peculiar defensive and acrobatic skill to channel their energies in a guided, controlled and managed environment rather than being exposed and exploited by persons who have an interest in recruiting those vulnerable males and females for criminal undertakings.”
SN: How important is corporate support to the advancement of MMA given that it’s a relatively new discipline in Guyana?
NM: “Corporate support is critical to every discipline, irrespective of it being young and budding or excessively popular. It has direct and indirect benefits and long-reaching effects. We have always echoed the appeal for other conglomerates to come on board and sponsor sporting activities and athletes in cash or kind. Among the known benefits the GMMAF will realise from Mohamed’s Enterprise sponsorship, is that it will provide the GMMAF a boost in awareness and excitement for and around the sport, making available money and space for specialist training, counselling, and medical expenditures.”
SN: What are the company’s overall objectives and goals for this budding partnership with the GMMAF?
NM: “Mohamed’s Enterprise objective and goal in supporting the GMMAF is to promote discipline among youths and adults. Create the opportunity and positive space for persons who are inclined to the various formats and skill sets of full-contact martial arts to exercise and express themselves with tangible benefits, promotions, and rewards.”
SN: How did you feel to be a part of the Academic Launch programme and how do you see society benefiting from the initiative?
“We at Mohamed’s Enterprise were elated to be part of the academic launch and first training session of the GMMAF. Upon critically analysing the partnership of the Guyana Police Force and the GMMAF, we’ve concluded that Guyanese will benefit tremendously from the new approach the police officers will have upon receiving the academic and physical training offered by the GMMAF. This partnership agreement should be extended to all other disciplined services, in particular the Guyana Defence Force. “We are not in favour of the use of excessive force in the line of duty or by civilians to law enforcement officers. We believe that the physical and mental skills which the GMMAF training will provide to police officers will further equip them to meaningfully engage and apprehend perpetrators who have violated the sanctity of society,” Mohamed ended.
