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GABA President appeals for visa consideration for India-bound boxers

Sep 07, 2008 Sports

By Michael Benjamin 
Over five months of intense training will finally culminate when four boxers leave these shores to participate in the 3rd Commonwealth Youth Championships slated for India in early October.

Since he is fully optimistic that his charges will all procure lucrative medals, President of the Guyana Amateur Boxing Association (GABA), Affeeze Khan, has issued a plea to officials of the American Embassy to facilitate the issuance of visas for the stopover leg of the trip.

The female team scheduled to travel to Trinidad and Tobago to participate in the Pan American Female Boxing championship, will depart on September 27 for the tournament which is scheduled to get underway from October 1-3.

Khan made the spirited call at a press briefing held at Olympic House, Queenstown yesterday. He intimated that the boxers have been involved in a rigid programme under the tutelage of national coach, Carl Franklyn and that it would be a pity if they are denied a visa to attend the games.

Franklyn said that the team of coaches consisting of himself, Terence Poole and Evan Parris paid keen attention to attendance, mannerism and discipline. He said that all of the boxers had satisfied the requirements, hence their selection.

He also disclosed that the box-off between Orlando Allicock and Moochan Sankar scheduled for yesterday afternoon at the Harpy Eagles Boxing Gym was cancelled after Sankar’s mother intimated that her son was no longer interested in boxing. It was later revealed that Sankar was disgruntled after he was initially identified to attend the games but was later told that he had to engage in a box-off to qualify. Affeeze Khan said that he regretted the incident but under the circumstances GABA executives made the most practical decision.

Khan debunked accusations of impartiality in the selection of teams. He reiterated that coach Evan Parris heads a team that comprises other coaches in the selection of teams. He said that GABA executives adopt a hands-off approach in the selection of teams. Khan revealed that the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA) will be picking up the tab for the boxers airline tickets while the coaches are required to purchase their tickets.

He said that the cost of tickets for the coaches exceeds three hundred thousand dollars. “I can assure you that Carl Franklyn will be with the team on this trip,” Khan emphatically stated.

Meanwhile Khan is scheduled to accompany the team to India. He intimated that the tournament will get underway on the 12th.

He said that a journey through the United States of America is only feasible route since the alternative through London would leave the boxers tired and drained upon arrival in India.

He said that the boxers would be required to travel to Trinidad and Tobago and upon their arrival at the Gatwick airport in England they will have to spend another 12 hours before proceeding to India. Using this route would cause the boxers to arrive on October 12, one day before the start of the tournament. He feels that such an eventuality would affect the boxers since they will not have sufficient time to acclimatize.

Touching on other issues, Khan said that GABA has designed a tunic with the colours of the Golden Arrowhead which will be the official garment worn by GABA affiliates.

Meanwhile GABA was the beneficiary of much needed support when businessman and sports enthusiast, Maurice Rajkumar donated an airline ticket to one of the female boxers traveling to Trinidad and Tobago to participate in the Pan American Female Boxing championships slated for Chagaramus, Trinidad and Tobago from 1-3 October. Rajkumar also donated two tunics for the females while promising to support the GABA in its future programmes.

The final squad selected for the India trip are, Light/flyweight Orlando Allicock, bantamweight Clevon Rock, Featherweight Stephon Gouveia and jnr/welterweight Akeem Alexander.

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