Journey to the top has started - Khan

Journey to the top has started – Khan

Dec 23, 2008 Sports

– Promises Guyana a gold medal

Affeeze Khan

By Rawle Welch
Despite the marginal success recorded by our boxers over the past three years, amateur boxing is definitely experiencing an upswing and it may be only a matter of time, before Guyana reclaim its former reputation as being among the leading countries in the English-speaking Caribbean to produce some of the finest amateur fighters.

This is the view that was expressed by President of the Guyana Amateur Boxing Association Affeeze Khan during a recent interview with Kaieteur Sport where he outlined his vision for the sport going forward.

“Our journey to return to the top of amateur boxing within the English-speaking Caribbean and to register even better results at other international tournaments started three years ago and even though the sport has suffered a few setbacks, we still intend to finish the course,” Khan said.

The straight talking Insurance Executive, who has been the chief architect in drafting the recovery plan for amateur boxing after it had experienced a period of decline that lasted for almost two decades, disclosed that his intention is to produce Olympic gold medalists and that process has already begun through the selection of two eminent coaches in Evan Parris and Carl Franklin who are tasked with the responsibility of visiting the respective gyms and scouting talent with the aim of providing them with specialised training.

“You can see the development, we begun with a bronze medal effort from Clive Atwell at the Pan Am Games in Brazil and followed that up with a silver medal performance from Cleavon Rock at the Junior Commonwealth Games in Pune, India and I want to promise the Guyanese fans a gold medal very shortly,” Khan boldly stated.

The GABA President indicated that currently there are over 200 young boxers between the ages of 8-17 in gyms all across the country trying to become the next superstar and they have to find ways to keep them involved and motivated in the sport through regular competitions.

“The commendable feature about that is that all those coaches volunteer their time to be in the gyms helping to create other alternative for those youths and I must recognise their efforts as well,” he pointed out.

He added that the more they can encourage those youths to stay off the streets and get involved in activities that will ultimately benefit them, the better it will serve all of us.

“I would like to call on the Ministry of Sport to do more for the sport and that includes the provision of a facility that can assist with giving our boxers the best opportunity to perform at a higher level.”

Still visibly disappointed by the proposed Academy’s failure to get off the ground, Khan revealed that among the plans he had envisaged for the project included a part that would have catered for the encampment of boxers, especially those from the outlying regions, a section to encourage academic development, high level training, first-aid and a branch that would have facilitated courses for Referees /Judges.

“All this was in addition to the main arena that would have accommodated some 3,000 patrons with gate receipts being the major source of income.

Khan said that another area they had planned to exploit was to stage cultural programmes that could have aided community development.

Expectation for 2009-
“Our expectation for 2009 is to forge a more accommodating relationship with the Minister of Sport and the Director to encourage them to throw their support behind the sport.

We have also decided very early that we will host six tournaments, while attending the inaugural Caribbean Games in Trinidad and Tobago is another high priority for us.

I’ve been asked by the Guyana Olympic Association to select 11 boxers for all the categories and prepare them for the Games, but that is no easy task unless we get the support from all the relevant stakeholders.

For us to select the best team we will have to provide meals and accommodation for boxers who reside out of Georgetown and that is not a simple undertaking when there is a cost factor.

We’ve used the National Gymnasium in the past and I’m making an early appeal to the Minister or the Director to grant us permission for its use.

Another ambitious plan we have is to select as many as 60 boxers who will undergo training at least three times per week leading up to the 2012 London Olympics.

It is the only recipe for success and if those conditions are met, Guyana stands an excellent chance of securing gold at the next Olympics which is clearly part of our mission.

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