As May 1 quickly approaches, the group of Guyanese boxers who are currently stranded in Cuba are sitting with fingers crossed, in hopes of getting the opportunity to return home soon.
The team of four before leaving for Cuba
Colin Lewis, Keevin Allicock, Dennis Thomas, and Desmond Amsterdam have been in Cuba since January 5, much longer than their intended three-month stay. The trip, which was funded by the National Sports Commission (NSC) and the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA), was geared at preparing the Olympic hopefuls for the 2020 Olympic Qualifier in Argentina, which has since been cancelled.
After three months of tedious work and getting to the point where the boxers were more than ready to
The boxers while in Cuba
take on the Qualifier, the event was cancelled as the coronavirus pandemic began to take its toll on the Caribbean Region.
Also, as a result of COVID-19, Guyana closed its ports, including the Eugene F Correia and Cheddi Jagan International Airports, just days before the boxers were scheduled to take a flight back home, making it impossible for them to return.
The initial two-week closure period was later extended to a month and while at first, the boxers were doing fine, they have now reached the point of frustration.
<<<Guyana Times Sport>>> checked in on the local team last week and it was revealed that they were doing as best as they possibly could; however, when this publication inquired about their situation this week, there were some drastic developments.
“We’re here more frustrated than ever, trying to be focused, staying positive. We’re out of personal effect with no money; we just here now hoping to get a call or a message to go home,” one of the boxers stated in their engagement with this publication.
While the boxers were moved to the Guyanese consulate in Havana to ensure that they were better accommodated, this provision seems to no longer be a great solution as the local pugilists are no longer able to train and their eating patterns are irregular.
“Our training has stopped completely and we know that the meals here is bad. Most mornings, we eat breakfast after 12 in the day, then we eat back again like 11 or 12 in the night.”
Understandably, any human being can only tolerate such situations for only so long and coupled with the fact that they are athletes, their current situation is extremely detrimental to their fitness and health.
“We would love to come home as soon as possible. Things look like it’s not getting any better here for us,” the boxer pleaded.
The boxers had reportedly made great progress in Cuba, under the watchful eyes of Cuban Coach Francisco Roldan and Terence Poole. The group is more than ready for the Olympic Qualifier, which was scheduled to be held from March 26 to April 4 in Buenos Aires, Argentina, but will now be rescheduled in accordance with the next date for the Tokyo Olympics.
