St. Lucia Boxing Association President David ‘Shakes’ Christopher is buoyant about his team’s chances at the impending Winfield Braithwaite Caribbean Schoolboys & Schoolgirls Boxing Championship, which is slated for August 16-18 at the National Gymnasium, Mandela Avenue.
This was disclosed following a release from the Guyana Boxing Association (GBA). Christopher stated, “We are coming with blood in our eyes.”
The St. Lucian contingent, which will be under the tutelage of Conrad Fredericks, comprises a 10-member fight roster, a team manager, and an assistant coach. The team is expected to arrive shortly on local shores.
According to Christopher, the preparatory phase was a gruelling process as the team aimed to condition both body and mind to be in the requisite physical and mental shape for the impending challenges.
Christopher disclosed that while sending such a large contingent was an expensive undertaking, the primary objective of the team’s participation is to dethrone Guyana, who have held the overall title since the event’s inception.
“The procurement of adequate funds was indeed challenging, but through the strenuous efforts of the organising committee, coupled with the generosity of the corporate community in St. Lucia, we were able to meet our financial obligations,” Christopher explained.
He further stated that an increase in financial assistance is required if the discipline is to continue its current trajectory, noting, “Too many of our businessmen and women are just delivering lip service, and this, coupled with the meagre sum allocated by the government in the national budget, can hardly suffice for the astronomical bills that we face,” he continued.
Christopher commended the efforts of the GBA under its current administration, noting that Guyana under the leadership of President Steve Ninvalle should be lauded for “keeping the developmental machinery of the sport chugging.”
He further said, “When we organise such tournaments as the impending championships, our pivotal objective is to harness the youths and preserve their integrity through involvement in productive activity.”
Christopher emphasised that adequate government funding in partnership with corporate support is required for the continued growth as the sport serves as a guiding light for many troubled individuals, noting, “The (St Lucian) Sports Minister, Kenson Casimir, tries his best, but government allocation is too meagre for an expansive programme.”
He noted that the team’s success at this event can serve as the catalyst for improved financial assistance, noting, “This might just be the fillip we need for improved support.”
Several other Caribbean nations have signalled their interest in competing at the event. They include Suriname, Jamaica, Barbados, and Trinidad and Tobago. Guyana is the defending overall champion, a title they have yet to surrender since the event’s inception.
