The National Sports Commission (NSC) has come to the rescue of the Guyana Boxing Association (GBA) for the second time in two weeks as it looks to assist the Association in preparing local boxers for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
A total of four Guyanese boxers will have the opportunity to participate in a three-month training stint in Cuba as they get ready for the Olympic qualifiers in March 2020. The athletes will include Keevin Allicock, Colin Lewis, Desmond Amsterdam and Dennis Thomas, who are arguably some of Guyana’s best prospects in boxing currently. The team is expected to be accompanied by Coaches Terrence Poole and Sebert Blake. Cuban Coach Roland Francisco will join the team in Cuba. The last time Guyana qualified for an Olympic event was in 1996. The feat was pulled off by light heavyweight John Douglas for the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, US.
Director of Sport, Christopher Jones hands over the cheque to GBA President Steve Ninvalle in the presence of Technical Director/Coach Terrence Poole
Speaking at the simple presentation ceremony that was held at the NSC’s Homestretch Avenue office on Tuesday morning, GBA Technical Director Terrence Poole emphasised on the fact that major investments were needed if athletes were to be given the right environment and tools to succeed.
“I just want to reiterate what the President said just now. If you need good results in any sport, you have to start with investment. So, I appreciate very much the contribution being made by NSC, so we can have a well-prepared team going into the Olympic qualifier in March,” Poole highlighted.
In sharing what fuelled the NSC’s contribution, Director of Sport, Christopher Jones detailed a few of the areas that the NSC’s contribution would cover. The Director of Sport went on to share that this $1 million would be followed by another donation of greater value in January 2020.
“Having the opportunity to have our boxers prepared in Cuba, is seen as most fitting and that’s why the NSC reached out to Mr [Steve] Ninvalle [GBA President] and the Boxing Association and indicated that we want to ensure that the boxers have every opportunity to prepare for this tournament. To cover their expenses, we’ll start with their airfare, accommodation, and their meals and of course, the Coaches there who will have to provide training,” Jones explained.
Disclosing that the highly-anticipated Olympic Qualifiers will be hosted in Argentina from March 26 to April 3, 2020, GBA President Ninvalle shared that the Association and boxers alike would continuously strive to put Guyana on the Olympic map.
“The sport of boxing is the nearest we will get to an Olympic medal in the near future and we will turn everything over in order to make this happen. So, this commitment from the Government is very important, the commitment from the Guyana Olympic Association is very important. I can say that each of the boxers selected committed to sacrifice in order to make this happen,” the GBA boss assured.
While it is the GBA’s hope that the boxers could depart on December 29, it was revealed that the Guyanese pugilists would be exposed to better equipment, continuous sparring and Cuban boxing championships. They may also have an opportunity to compete in Panama and the Dominican Republic during January and February. The GOA association is also expected to make a donation in the near future.
