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PS Steve Ninvalle tipped as new Amateur Boxing head
Steve Ninvalle
By Michael Benjamin
Boxing coaches and other stakeholders of the beleaguered Guyana Amateur Boxing Association (GABA) will convene this afternoon at the Olympic House, High Street Georgetown, to elect office bearers for the current dispensation and from all indications, Parliamentary Secretary, Steve Ninvalle, may assume the Presidential seat vacated by Affeeze Khan a few months ago.
A source close to the GABA intimated that the initial problem that surfaced after interim president Eustace Cuffy refused to vacate the seat while citing constitutional statutes, have been cleared up, paving the way for Ninvalle’s installation. Reached yesterday for a comment, Cuffy verified the views of our source but said that he has made himself available for any other executive position offered to him.
Several other positions will be contested and while it is not yet clear who the nominees are, former secretary, Keith Campbell has indicated an interest in contesting for his former position. Campbell, once elected as Secretary was ousted after former president, Affeeze Khan, successfully moved a no confidence motion against him. He was once again nominated for the position at the last AGM but declined citing a disinterest in occupying the seat under the stewardship of Khan.
“I have never had a problem with offering my services to the development of our amateur boxers. My issues rested on the modus operandi of Mr. Khan and now that he is no longer the president I feel obliged to accept whatever position offered to me,” Campbell said when contacted for a comment yesterday afternoon.
The positions being contested are Secretary, Secretary/Treasurer, two Vice Presidents and a treasurer. Dexter Patterson had held the last position but also was displaced after Khan orchestrated a no confidence motion against him. He was also nominated to the position in the last Annual General Meeting but lost by a large margin to Ravindra Ketwaroo who recently created a void with his resignation.
Another Vice President, Rudolph Torrington has recently resigned from the position while yet another Vice President, Keith French, while verbally indicating a disinterest in occupying the seat, is yet to dispatch a correspondence to this effect. He was recently displaced via a no confidence motion.
Meanwhile, attempts by this journalist to solicit a comment from Ninvalle failed with the Parliamentary Secretary adapting a ‘no comment’ stance. Ninvalle did say that he has been getting lots of feedback suggesting his nomination but is unable to verify the rumors.
Ninvalle had been one of the front runners in the last election of office bearers but lost out to Khan by a mere vote (10-11). Shortly after the meeting he had intimated that he was prepared to offer support towards Mr. Khan. This help did not materialize as Khan resigned soon afterwards citing concern for his health. His resignation paved the way for Cuffy’s elevation. During his short tenure, Cuffy has led a team of relatively inexperienced boxers to a one day Goodwill Championship in Barbados. Things went awry after one of the local boxers tumbled out of the ring forcing a premature halt to the proceedings.
Initially, Cuffy was reluctant to vacate the presidential chair, citing constitutional statutes to support his stance. However, he seems to have had a change of heart and when contacted yesterday afternoon intimated that “I am not contesting the Presidential seat but am prepared to serve in whatever capacity the clubs see fit.”
Whichever way the situation pans out amateur boxers are hoping that whosoever occupies the presidential seat would place the boxers’ interests foremost.
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