GABA Executive should trigger new attitudes towards development

Dec 13, 2009 Sports

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By Michael Benjamin
Last Friday evening, at an Extraordinary General Meeting at the Olympic House, High Street Georgetown, the amateur boxing community unanimously elected Steve Ninvalle as their President. This appointment came ten months after that association held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) and elected Affeeze Khan into office.
Khan, as is now common knowledge, was unable to marshal his troops, creating dissension among the boxers that consequently precipitated unfavourable relations among the gym administrators. These administrators, in turn, registered their discontentment and disgust at his (Khan) management style and further lodged several complaints at the office of the head of the Guyana Olympics Association (GOA), K A Juman Yassin. The GOA boss later convened a meeting to thrash out the matter. What transpired at that meeting is now history but in the end the incumbent, Khan proffered his resignation thus paving the way for Ninvalle’s ascendancy.
Over the years, the GABA has had tumultuous experiences that necessitated intervention from several influential individuals to rectify the situation. As the Commissioner of Police, Laurie Lewis managed to use his tremendous influence to obtain support and create opportunities for his charges.
Mr. Lewis derived support from other influential personnel from among his subordinates and well placed respectable members of the corporate society.
The input of these executives reflected positively on the operations of local boxers. Mr. George Vyphuis, Howard Cox and a host of influential personnel comprised a bunch of executives that had the tools and wherewithal to perform their duties effectively.
The well-publicized saga that forced Mr. Lewis to rescind his services has had a debilitating effect on the operations of GABA. The entire executive body followed Mr. Lewis cue and demitted office relegating the sport to its former dismal state.
Shortly afterwards, the boxers managed to convince Army Officer, Lieutenant Ross to accede to the helm. The ink had scarcely dried on the document that invested Mr. Ross into office before confusion reigned. Less than twenty four hours later, the soldier tendered his resignation citing disapproval of his military bosses.
Former Attorney General, Bernard DeSantos, then acquiesced to the pleadings of Mr. Yassin to perform the presidential functions. Despite his obvious love for the sport Mr. DeSantos was unable to impact on the proceedings because of the demands of his office. Naturally, he eventually resigned and the boxers went on another search for an appropriate president.
Keith Campbell then announced that he had worked under insurance agent, Affeeze Khan and was impressed with his administrative ability.
When Mr. Khan decided to take up the role of president representatives of the clubs listened to his grand plans and projections and unanimously approved his installation.
Less than one year later, that approval evaporated into repugnance. Several constitutionally elected members of the executive committee who dared to oppose Mr. Khan’s views somehow found themselves before disciplinary committees and subsequently ousted through no confidence motions.
Meanwhile, almost imperceptibly, the entire executive body, officials all handpicked by Mr. Khan assumed various positions. It mattered not that these individuals possessed little or no experience in the management of, or participation in the fistic sport. Mr. Khan is an active member of the Jaycees and he did not flinch when he informed me that he regarded his tactics of surrounding himself with persons deemed loyal to him to be prudent.
Coach, Carl Franklyn was Khan’s trusted soldier until the latter individual dared to oppose Khan’s decision. He was subsequently sidelined. It mattered not the Mr. Franklyn was one of the most experienced and knowledgeable coaches around. Khan continued to swing his scythe with deadly precision and when he was through, he had removed all dissenting voices.
This ploy backfired and instead of winning the support of the gyms, Khan only managed to incur their wrath. Thereafter, strident calls for his resignation forced the intervention of Mr. Yassin and the rest is now history.
Ninvalle’s ascension to office must have been pleasing to him after losing out to Khan in the February elections. Khan’s victory (20-21) was attained from several gyms which later investigations proved were just ghost structures.
The East Ruimveldt, Kwakwani, Buxton/Friendship and a host of other gyms were merely set up to facilitate improved chances for Khan to retain his Presidential seat through the votes accrued from them.
This writer had conducted an investigation to ascertain if these gyms really existed. It therefore means that the stock of inaugurated gyms, that would give the impression of a viable recruitment effort on the part of Khan, was merely a mirage and must now be repaired with an up heaved effort by the new GABA executive even if to just provide the broad based opportunities the Khan initiative was meant to achieve.
Ninvalle holds a political office and there has been views expended that he is primarily a political animal that would be required to satisfy the bidding of his political bosses.
This theory may ring true but there really is no basis to discredit the former journalist even before he is given an opportunity to display his wares. Furthermore, Ninvalle heads GABA but he would be constrained by a voting process which will have to be approved by his other executives.
Already, he has signaled an intention to enwrap the wide cross section of views that would flow his way, not only from his executives but also from well-wishers that have the interest of the boxers at heart.
One must not forget that Ninvalle is ascending into an office that is bereft of funds.  Coupled with that is the fact that the level of discipline among boxers, coaches and even the executives has been questioned.
Obviously, Ninvalle would be required to marshal his troops, keep them in line even as he strengthens relations that will engender their spirited efforts towards the reinstatement of the sport to its number one status.
There are definitely no ifs, buts or maybes, amateur boxing needs more than just a shot in the arm. Come to think of it amateur boxing need more than just a president with political connections. What the sport needs are affiliates that are willing to aggressively and honestly evaluate the circumstances, review the past mistakes and aspire to work assiduously towards the elimination of these vices. Otherwise, the gyms may as well start looking for another president.
This new batch of executives must be prepared to initiate discussions among all stakeholders, enact stringent policies to keep all of its affiliates in check and drum up the will to adapt an inflexible, no holds barred dispositions towards the upliftment of the sport. Otherwise, amateur boxers may as well start searching once again for a president to conduct their affairs.
The boxers must also allow their new president some amount of immunity to implement strategies towards their development.
They must not bellyache just because they fail to understand the tactics of their leaders and should cling to their various representatives at the gym level to promote their interests at the higher level.
Failure to adopt the right attitude to matters pertaining to their development may send the wrong signals and usurp the administrative effort of the executive committee.
Should this be allowed to happen boxers would be in the market before very long searching for the appropriate person to lead them once again. It is now incumbent on all stakeholders of this wonderful sport to work assiduously to ensure that what happened in the past must not be repeated in the future.
The success of the recently installed executive committee rests squarely in the hands of the coaches and boxers.

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