Bellyaching would not solve problems in amateur boxing

Aug 15, 2009 Sports

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By Michael Benjamin
Even a casual glance at the occurrences within the Guyana Amateur Boxing Association (GABA) would unveil the turbulence that the sport is experiencing and the need for a viable solution to lift the sport, that has brought Guyana untold glory, from its dismal state.
It seems painfully obvious that lifting the sport from its current dismal state seems to be beyond the mental and/or physical capacity of the current GABA executive.
For too long any type of analysis that contradicts the projections and/or programmes of the present batch of GABA executive, is taken in the most demeaning way and is met by caustic rebuttals. Suddenly the press, an important stakeholder in the affairs of local boxers, is regarded as the enemy and instead of fostering closer relationships; GABA executives have adopted policies of segregation.
For some inexplicable reason elected officials believe that the votes procured at elections give them the right to rule uncompromisingly. Yet, these very officials have the temerity to wonder why the sport that has brought Guyana so much glory continues to experience untold difficulties while unable to attract the type of corporate intervention necessary to lift the sport from its dismal state.
Amateur boxing has had more than its fair share of problems and despite the obvious talent waiting to be nurtured the corporate community seems to be uninterested in any strategies thought up towards the sports revival (and survival). One wonders whether GABA executives have assessed the reasons for such responses.
The battle for power escalated last February when Parliamentary Secretary, Steve Ninvalle, accepted a nomination to contest for the presidency held by incumbent, Affeeze Khan.
In what has become customary (and sickening) in Guyana, the naysayer had a field day and instead of perusing Ninvalle’s strength and viability towards initiating a viable programme, they discussed his political affiliation and all manner of irrelevancies as though they were decisive factors.
Khan, for his part, besieged the electorate for another term citing the achievements during his initial term as the yardstick. He also highlighted the many gyms that he had resuscitated.
While all this seemed laudable, questions pervaded the mind. Was the picture painted by Khan during his reelection campaign a true reflection of the status quo?
Were the gyms that he had boasted of resuscitating functional or were they conveniently set up to enhance his reinstatement? While the answer was not immediately apparent, now that the elections are over, it seemed painfully obvious that the incumbent president had swindled the electorate.
The Kwakwani Boxing Gym, The Buxton/Friendship Boxing Gym, the Sophia Boxing Gym, the East Ruimveldt Boxing Gym, and a host of other gyms are not as functional as we were initially made to believe. If they are, can someone explain their absence from the few tournaments held so far this year? Other than the regular gyms that were in existence before Khan took over the reins of GABA, we are still to hear from the numerous other gyms that sprang up before elections.
What about the Boxing Academy set up at the National Gymnasium, is it still effective? I checked and realized it is not. Can anyone shed light on the many grandiose projects that sprang up overnight just before the elections?
The resuscitation of these gyms formed the base of Khan’s achievements. Now that the truth of the matter is apparent can an accusation of fraud be made? (Just wondering aloud). Understandably, Khan was reinstated into office but the closeness of the votes ought not to be ignored. He eked out a victory by a mere vote of 11 to Ninvalle’s 10.
This should have served as an indication of the electorate’s needs and should have prompted him to find a way to work along with Ninvalle for the boxers’ benefit. Instead, Khan decided to go it alone.
How can he then look amazed by the poor responses from corporate Guyana? Recent news releases have depicted the difficulties experienced by Team Khan in its bid to procure adequate sponsorship. Did such an occurrence instigate a fresh way of looking at old problems? Obviously not! Maybe it is not too late to shelve the type of segregation that has omitted key stakeholders from the decision making process. Instead of adopting a hard-line disposition, Team Khan should have a frank and open discussion with key members of the boxing community, with representation from all of the gyms with an aim of dealing with these challenges once and for all.
Things reached a head when Khan discovered, much to his chagrin, that the corporate community was not as impressed as he had thought. Efforts to procure sufficient funds for a team of boxers to attend the World Games in Italy failed dismally.
A reliable source within the GABA executive recently informed me that at a meeting convened to discuss Guyana’s participation at the afore mentioned games, the executive body unanimously voted for lightweight Aubrey Moore and Featherweight, Clive Atwell to attend those games.
However, it was also decided that a coach accompany the boxers. Once again, the required amount of money to offset the expenses was not met and the trip was placed in jeopardy.
Stranger things have happened in the past but to send our two boxers all the way to Italy minus a coach tops all absurdities.
It would have been much better if the money accrued could have been channeled into some sort of development programme for the two boxers that would have benefited the sport in a far more meaningful way than attendance at the games. I would be amazed (sorry shocked) if any of our two boxers get past the first round of the tournament.
The situation has now reached crises proportions. It is now time for dialogue and discussion.
Symposiums, meetings, gatherings, get together, call it what you will, have always created fresh perspectives that when employed, have resulted in new ways to tackle old problems and concomitant positive changes.
Unfortunately, such applications have now been replaced by personal aggrandizements, excessive strutting and preening of feathers, like the proverbial peacock, and unmitigated self centeredness that in the end is bound to hurt the sport immensely.
Ever since the installment of the current GABA executive, we have been inundated by a plethora of wailing and bellyaching. We have heard of the unavailability of adequate funds to address this programme and that initiative. We have heard top GABA executives lambasting the government for their laissez-faire disposition, yet calls for a more proactive stance from the current executive to turn around the flagging fortunes of the sport has been totally ignored.
To say that the public is totally fed up with the ranting and raving of GABA executives is simply stating the obvious.
They must now do things the right way and procure similar results or hand over the reins to competent people. Otherwise, when things go awfully wrong, don’t bellyache. Just grin and bear it.

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