GABA executives commence rebuilding process of beleaguered association

Jan 11, 2010 Sports

President of the Guyana Amateur Boxing Association, Steve Ninvalle last Saturday morning presided over a specially arranged meeting with his executives at his Main Street office and installed several committees to expedite the stabilization of the beleaguered organization.

Michael Benjamin

Several of the organization’s executive members attended the forum and included Vice Presidents, Eustace Cuffy and Maurice Rajkumar, Assistant Secretary/Treasurer, Keith Campbell, Secretary Sean Richmond and Public Relations Officer, Michael Benjamin.

Executives were asked to double on some of the committees even as a decision was taken to co-opt other members should the need arise.

Rajkumar, Richmond and Dexter Patterson were placed in charge of the finance committee while Cuffy, Campbell, Benjamin and Ninvalle comprise the selection committee. Campbell, Benjamin, Cuffy, Patterson and Jeff Roberts will oversee the operations in the programme committee while Dr. Benjamin Singh has acquiesced to serve as the association’s physician, while Guyana Defence Force coach, Terrence Poole, has been appointed Programme Director.

A decision was also taken to randomly co-opt other affiliates into the respective committees should the need arise. Mr. Ninvalle further instructed the nominees to expedite the works in their respective areas since it was agreed that time was an integral factor in the process.

Health matters also comprised an integral part of the discussion and the executives decided that since the presence of an ambulance at tournaments would be prohibitive, the vehicles of executive members would be used to provide this service. As such, before the commencement of tournaments the designated vehicle would be identified and placed at a strategic point at the venue to allow for speedy ingress and egress.

The executives also touched briefly on the yearly itinerary and decided to bypass the South American tournament scheduled for Medellin, Columbia starting January 13 next. The prognosis is that the time allotted for preparation would have been inadequate and thus would not be money well spent.

Flashback!!! The executive members of GABA following their installation; From left sitting are Roberts, Ninvalle, Cuffy and Rajkumar. Standing from left are Patterson, Campbell and Richmond.

Inadequate funds in the association’s account also acted as a decisive force in the executive’s decision to boycott the games. While an official determination is still to be made, the executives are operating on the presumption that the association’s coffers are devoid of cash. At an earlier meeting, Mr. Rajkumar had pledged $50,000 into the association’s account. His gesture was emulated by Mr. Ninvalle and Mr. Richmond who had pledged $10,000 and $5,000, respectively.

The issue of a detailed data base was also discussed and already, the secretary has initiated the groundwork towards the realization of the project. The document will encompass the biographical details of all of the affiliates. Mr. Richmond disclosed that the relevant instructions necessary for its implementation would soon be dispatched to the respective coaches.

The executives also discussed the issue of the installment of a national coach and decided to conduct a voting process to fill this portfolio. Ninvalle explained that he would be seeking funding to provide a stipend for the identified coach. He said that he would instruct the Secretary to compile a document to submit to Minister of Sports, Frank Anthony for approval.

Meanwhile, Mr. Rajkumar has committed to invest in a talented boxer in preparation for the 2012 Olympics. He has outlined several character traits along with the achievements of the person that would form the basis for qualification. Public Relations Officer, Michael Benjamin has been mandated to identify a suitable boxer for this project. Mr. Rajkumar has also promised to commence renovation works on the Albouystown based Harpy Eagles Boxing Gym to enhance the surroundings so that the boxers of that facility would be able to train in comfort.

The meeting was a direct response of the new executives to the concerns of the boxing community to initiate proper systems towards the resuscitation of the sport as a vibrant force.

Last Friday afternoon, the executives had also visited the Harpy Eagles, Forgotten Youth Foundation and the Andrew ‘Sixhead’ Lewis boxing gyms to ascertain the conditions under which the boxers are training. The executives have also promised to implement a system that ensures the effectiveness of their initiatives.