Letter to the Sports Editor GBA selection policies need to be properly examined

Oct 26, 2013 Sports

Dear Editor,
Kindly grant me some space in your widely read newspapers to expound on an article appearing on Sunday October 20 and captioned ‘Eclipsing the bronze medal feat through gold medal inputs’ penned by Michael Benjamin.
There are occasions when I differed with some of the views expressed by this writer but this time I am forced to conclude that his views are spot on.
The article dealt in part with Imran Khan, a prominent amateur pugilist that was spotlighted for representation at the 2012 London Olympics. I was then a member of the executive committee of the then Guyana Amateur Boxing Association, now the Guyana Boxing Association and recall that several boxers were identified to travel to Brazil to participate in the Olympics Box Off. Imran Khan was listed as the top priority with Stephon Gouveia, Richard Williamson and Bert Braithwaite being the other selectees in that order; all except Williamson made the trip. Williamson was aggrieved and frustrated and opted to leave the amateur ranks. I was one of the persons that had openly criticized Williamson’s omission since GBA executives ignored the order of priority.
Fast forward to Brazil; Gouveia performed above par and to my mind was the best of the lot and was just one victory shy of qualification to the London Olympics. Consequent to the return of the team, members of the selection committee (GABA) convened and we unanimously decided to supplant Khan with Gouveia in order of priority. The wisdom of that decision was very evident based upon their individual performances in Brazil; Gouveia won two bouts while Khan lost his first bout. Further, Gouveia also defeated Khan in a subsequent bout earlier this year.
Nevertheless, the selectors persisted with Khan and he was selected to travel to Cuba for the Cardin Games. Once again, he failed at those games yet the selectors continued to put a great deal of faith in him and his recent trip to Kazakhstan to participate in the IABA World Championships ended dismally after he lost his very first bout. In the meantime, Gouveia was overlooked at the expense of Khan’s participation. Now, does this make any sense? Was Khan’s selection fair and transparent?
I now turn my attention to the coach and contend that if Cuban coach, Francisco Hernandez Roldan is to be effective he should have travelled with the boxers to properly assess their performances in order to make the relevant adjustments. Instead, he remained at home while another coach accompanied the boxers.
The GBA executive is boasting of the boxers’ success in the just concluded South American Youth Games in Peru. What they did not say is that only Michael April actually won a bout. The other boxers drew byes and were propelled into the medal rounds without throwing a punch including silver medalist, Travis Fraser. In other words none of the medals were really meritorious yet the GBA executive continues to preen their feathers as though the boxers had truly done a great deed.
I am contending that the selection policies used by the GBA needs to be thoroughly examined to determine if taxpayers and the nation at large are receiving value for their dollar. Hopefully, such examinations will ensure that the best boxers travel to international games in representation of this country.
Keith Campbell

Latest News

Letter to the Sports Editor GBA selection policies need to be properly examined

Related

Similar Articles

The Glenn Lall Show | January, 27th, 2025

Follow on Tik Tok @Glennlall

THE BLUNT OF THE DAY

Sports

GSL 2025 to take place in July

Ken Harvey dominates GBA’s Pepsi/Michael...

Goal is Money survive scare on Opening Night of...

GFF President congratulates Junior Lady Jags

Former Windies captains remember...

Olympic Kremlin crowned Horse-of-the-Year at One...

Features/Columnists

The PPP/C’s greatest liability

OAS Secretary General Election and renewed OAS Consensus

Guyana: violence increasingly seen as solution

Publisher’s Note

Weekend Cartoon

Bridge Watch

Demerara Harbour Bridge

> Berbice Bridge […]

Letter to the Sports Editor GBA selection policies need to be properly examined

Share this:

Related

Similar Articles

The Glenn Lall Show | January, 27th, 2025

Follow on Tik Tok @Glennlall

THE BLUNT OF THE DAY

Sports

Features/Columnists

Publisher’s Note

Weekend Cartoon

Bridge Watch

Demerara Harbour Bridge

> Berbice Bridge […]