By Andrew Carmichael
Coach of the Roberts Champion Boxing Gym (RCBG) Jeff Roberts is appealing to officials of the A Partnership For National Unity (APNU) New Amsterdam office to allow boxers to continue to use the building for training.
The boxers were put out of the building as the party was preparing to campaign for General Elections which were held in May last year. Now that the elections are over the doors remain shut to them. “We use to use the APNU building at St Magdalene Street and I have been using that building for a few years but we had to give it up for the elections. Now everything is over but we still can’t get back into the building because they said they need it for personal use.”
The section of the building which the boxers used is currently not being utilized and according to a source close to the party, they are doing nothing with the lower flat of the building. The source further told Guyana Times Sport that persons in charge want a fee for the use of the building.
Meanwhile, the boxers continue to suffer. Some young boxers have to travel to Rose hall Town, costing $400 to travel to get there and utilize equipment at another gym. Many of those amateur boxers are still at school and can ill afford the cost.
Roberts says the APNU building is ideal for training. “There is no other building in New Amsterdam that I can use to train these boxers and there are a lot of youths in New Amsterdam who need the training and who I can take to another level but there is nowhere…”
Former three-time amateur and two-time professional boxing champion Jeff Roberts is appealing to authorities in the government to assist young boxers in Berbice. According to the former Bantamweight and Featherweight champion, it now appears as though the current administration is not only none supportive of the sport but are also against anyone who tries to develop the sport of boxing in Berbice.
Roberts says since the coalition took office they have delivered a knockout punch to the sport in the ancient county.
Roberts who is no longer in the business of winning fights has now turned his attention to pass on his skills to young boxers but those in authority are trying to stop his efforts.
Two years ago, he established the RCBG where he has over 20 young boxers under his watch.
Among them are Junior South American medalist, Flyweight Michael April, Junior Middleweight Travis Fraser and Bantamweight Joel Williamson but the former boxer; now coach has nowhere to train them. “I am trying to get to train these youths in Berbice but it seems like a lost programme. Nothing is happening and I need some help from somewhere and somehow.”
