Coach Francisco Roldan returns to boxing duties in Guyana
Cuban boxing coach Francisco Roldan has made his return to Guyana after the Guyana Boxing Association and the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA) came to an agreement that local boxers needed an extra push ahead of several international engagements this year.
Back in 2015, Francisco Roldan said his goodbyes to Guyana, after the Cuban boxing coach’s three-year stint ended due to lack of resources.
Four years later, the coach has returned to the ‘Land of Many Waters’ to aid in the preparation of local boxers for the Pan Am qualifiers in April and the Pan Am games in July.
Guyana Boxing Association President Steve Ninvalle explained how they arrived
Guyana Boxing Association President Steve Ninvalle, Guyana Olympic Association President KA Juman Yassin and Cuban boxing coach Francisco Roldan
at the decision.
“We know we have a long road ahead which includes the Pan Am qualifier, Pan Am games, the Olympic qualifier, world championships and so forth. I sat with Mr Juman Yassin maybe about one and half to two months ago and Mr Yassin thought it was important to have the Cuban coach involved in the training of our young boxers,”
Meanwhile, KA Juman Yassin President Guyana Olympic Association, disclosed that the GOA will be the one footing the bill of having Roldan’s services.
“The Guyana Olympic Association will be footing the full bill for his stay in Guyana, accommodation and I prefer to call it stipend rather than salary. It is my expectation and hope that our boxers will qualify for the Pan American Games in July,” Juman Yassin stated.
The GOA President also took the time to give reason why Roldan was the perfect selection. “We felt that having been here in Guyana and knowing the boxers, he would be in a better position to really take our boxers to the next level.”
On the other hand, Francisco Roldan expressed his elation at being in Guyana once again and pledged his efforts to improving the skill of the Guyanese boxers.
“I want to thank you, the President of the GOA, and President of GBA too, because they trust in me and bring back me again to Guyana. So I promise here that I will work very hard to try to give my best with the boxers,” Roldan said.
Roldan will hit the ground running, participating in a technical meeting with the GBA President and Technical Director Terrence Poole and his coaching sessions will begin today.
