Several boxing gyms across Guyana are in for some major resource upgrades following the handing over of a donation from the International Boxing Association (AIBA) to the Guyana Boxing Association.
GBA President Steve Ninvalle (C) making the presentation
The simple hand-over ceremony was conducted on Wednesday morning at the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport’s Main Street office, where Guyana Boxing Association (GBA) President Steve Ninvalle distributed several quantities of gloves, rope, heavy bags, bandages, mouth guards and hand pads, among other items relative to the sport to the heads of the various gyms.
In giving some background to the donation, Ninvalle related that it is a delivered promise from AIBA President Umar Kremlyov.
“The equipment is a promise made by the now President of AIBA, Umar Kremlyov, to make sure that they assist all associations across the world. Guyana has received, so have several other countries in the English- speaking Caribbean, Central America, South America, North American, Asia, and right across the world,” Ninvalle shared.
Some of the equipment from which the local gyms would benefit
In a bid to register his gratitude, the GBA boss stated, “We are very, very happy that we could have had this injection, which would assist us greatly in our development. We’re still in a COVID season, but we expect to come out soon, and these gears will be assisting us in Guyana remaining the number 1 boxing country in Caricom, and we hope it can assist us in becoming Number 1 in Latin America.”
Ninvalle, a strong supporter of Kremlyov and his initiatives, again took the opportunity to express his faith in the AIBA President.
“It is my belief that once he remains the President of AIBA, each and every one of the 204 countries affiliated to that body will see a rise in the development of the sport.”
He added, “So, on behalf of the Guyana Boxing Association, I would like to say a heartfelt, ‘Thank you,’ to Umar Kremlyov. Guyana will remain supporting him in his initiatives, and we do hope that he can continue supporting us and the Caribbean.”
Technical Director of the GBA, Coach Terrence Poole MS, voiced his gratitude for the items, underscoring that they would play an integral role in the development of the sport.
“I would have made a statement on International Boxing Day, where I was calling for resources to be given to Guyana. I don’t know if that message is out there so fast, but now, as you can see, we have some resources, which will do well for amateur boxing in Guyana,” Poole stated, alluding to his call for AIBA to lend Guyana a hand resource-wise in the International Boxing Day video message.
Poole continued, “Without equipment, the gyms cannot function; so, this equipment today, I think it will do us very good. All the gyms! I think it would have more boxers in your gyms.”
However, the ecstasy of the moment did not come without a staunch warning from the coach, who stressed that the equipment must be used in the right way.
“It’s important that the gears are being used for the intended purpose, which we know that would be,” Poole said.
