Truncated boxing team leaves for Roberto Balado/Cardova Cardin tournaments in Cuba

Jun 02, 2013 Sports

Several weeks of intense training in the intricacies of boxing boiled down to naught for 5 members of the local boxing team that were scheduled to engage strong teams from several countries at the Roberto Balado and the Cardova Cardin boxing tournaments scheduled for Cuba from Tuesday June 4 next.

Director of Youth and Sports, Neil Kumar (extreme left) and President of the GBA, Steve Ninvalle (3rd left) pose with boxers Bancroft (2nd left), Khan and Craig (2nd & 3rd right) during the brief ceremony. Also in photo are coaches Hernandez and Poole (extreme left and right back row), GBA Secretary, Shawn Richmond (centre back) and Dexter Patterson (right back)

Officials blame the unavailability of adequate funding which resulted in the team being downsized to just three pugilists; Guyana Police Force, middleweight, Dennis Thomas and bantamweight, Imran Khan along with Guyana Defence Force representative, Eon Bancroft. They are expected to depart Guyana tomorrow morning for the Spanish speaking country amidst confidence of the executives of the Guyana Boxing Association (GBA) that they will do well.
Those failing to make the grade are GDF representative, welterweight Ron Smith, light/middleweight Bert Braithwaite and light/weight, Clairmont Gibson, featherweight, Delon Charles (FYF) and lightweight, Stephon Gouviea (HE); these boxers have been affected by the lack of funds. The team will be managed and coached by Terrence Poole with assistance from Cuban coach, Francisco Hernandez Roldon.
President of the GBA, Steve Ninvalle, was disappointed by the turn of events that forced his executive to downsize the team but extended much praise to Director of Youth and Sports, Neil Kumar for his input which was responsible for the three boxers attending the tournament.
Mr. Ninvalle further expressed deep gratitude to the Commissioner of Police (ag), Leroy Brummel, for his unselfish donation of two airline tickets for Thomas and Khan. Chief Executive Officer of Sterling Products Ltd, Ramsay Ali also came in for high praise after donating the airline ticket for Bancroft. The team also benefited from Government largesse in the form of tax exemptions and other support from several corporate entities including B K International and the National Sports Commission.
Yesterday afternoon, the three boxers, accompanied by the two coaches, convened at the Andrew Lewis Boxing Gym to collect their uniforms, while Mr. Kumar and Mr. Ninvalle gave them a pep talk. The Director of Sports said that he is truly heartened by the efforts of Mr. Ninvalle in the advancement of his charges. He also intimated that the GBA boss is the only sports executive to have conformed to the request of Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports, Frank Anthony, to submit a 5 years projection of the boxers’ itinerary up to the 2016 Brazil Olympics. “I would have liked if Guyana could have enjoyed a larger representation but financial constraints precluded this possibility,” bemoaned Mr. Kumar. Nevertheless, he remained confident that the selectees could uphold the pride of this nation at the impending tournament and he wished them well.
Mr. Ninvalle also expressed remorse that the team eventually had to be downsized but remained confident that those selected will uphold the proud tradition of their predecessors and do Guyana proud. He reminded the boxers of the toughness of the tournament and urged them to stay focused.
Several other countries would be participating in the tournament which, in reality, could be viewed as a mini Olympics. Russia will send two squads to take part in the traditional tournament, while Argentina, Barbados, Brazil, Chile, the Cayman Islands, Canada, Kazakhstan, China, Jordan, Algeria, Mongolia and Australia will also participate.