Back in October, the Guyana Boxing Association (GBA) had revealed plans to construct a new home for boxing. It was to be to the tune of $50M, complete with an artist’s impression of the building.
An architect’s impression of the soon-to- be-built home for boxing
While the project is set to be realized in a matter of years, it is one that GBA President Steve Ninvalle is quite eager about.
GBA President, Steve Ninvalle
However, more than one month later, GBA President Steve Ninvalle disclosed that the price has gone up to meet the requirements of the country’s coaches.
“We would have had a meeting with our coaches, I think it was last week, after receiving the drawing from the architect, and the coaches would have liked to have certain additions to that building. That is what has carried us up to approximately $100M,” Ninvalle disclosed to Guyana Times Sport.
“But we want to make sure when this is finished that this is something that not only Guyana can be proud of, but the entire Caribbean,” he said.
Aside from a state-of-the-art gym, the facility is supposed to be equipped with a 20- room dormitory and a kitchen area. Ninvalle explained the increase in costs, noting that no cost should be spared to have the best possible facility, especially since the others have deteriorated.
The GBA boss emphasised, “A $100M sounds like quite a lot of money, but if you think outside of the box, it’s achievable. That is what we will do.”
Ninvalle went on to state, “It has never happened in boxing before. We can’t look at the Andrew ‘Six Head’ Lewis Gym and call that a home for boxing. Even though that is now controlled by the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, there needs to be a proper management system in that. So, when we put on the locks to the doors, they’re not off the next day, they don’t have people just walking in and walking out. Proper management systems,”
This brought Ninvalle to the sidenote that the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport has budgeted for the refurbishment of the aforementioned Albouystown gym. However, he added, “That must not be our standard facility in this country; it cannot stand up to international scrutiny.”
Another focal point for the GBA is transforming Guyana into the hub of boxing in the Caribbean, since it is already being sought out as training grounds.
“We have found, in recent times, that several Caribbean countries are starting to gravitate towards Guyana, with the limited infrastructure that we have, to send their boxers to train here. As a matter of fact, the Trinidad Olympian Aaron Prince came down here. Barbados’ Jamal Breedy, they wanted to send him here to prepare for the World Championships, and he went to the quarterfinals,” Ninvalle explained.
He further stated, “So, even with the limited infrastructure that we have now, they want to have their boxers come here, and I know that we will become the hub. We will give ourselves three years to get this building up and functional.”
The GBA and Ninvalle are hoping to have the facility completed within three years.
