DDL reaffirms support for amateur boxing with support of U-16 boxing championship

Jun 27, 2014 Sports

Three years ago the Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL) partnered with the Guyana Boxing Association (GBA) and initiated an Under-16 boxing championship. The tournament was meant to nurture young boxers at the nursery level to prepare them for other accomplished overseas assignments.
Indeed, it has served its purpose and several of the current senior amateur boxers have benefitted after successful tenures and are now plying their trade at higher levels. Now three years later, administrators of DDL have once again acquiesced to the continuance of the programme and boxers are now engaged in stiff training in preparation of the third edition of the championships scheduled to get underway July month end.

Mr. Ninvalle gratefully collects the sponsorship package from Mr. Wills in the presence of Mr. Poole

Yesterday morning, the principals of both entities, GBA President, Steve Ninvalle and DDL Brand Manager, Larry Wills, convened at the Industrial Site location of Distribution Services Ltd to unveil the particulars of the tournament and hand over the sponsorship package respectively.
Once again the tournament will be sponsored under the Pepsi and Gatorade brands and Mr. Wills assured the GBA President that executives of his company were indeed impressed with the quality of the tournament and the accomplishments of the boxers.
He said that his company is always on the lookout for opportunities to aid young people in developmental activities. He said the tournament allowed them to accomplish this task.
“As sponsor of the event we are pleased with the way in which the tournaments are organized and executed and we continue to be amazed at the level of professionalism executed by the young boxers,” said Mr. Wills.
Mr. Ninvalle expressed gratitude to his benefactor saying that the nursery is very important and DDL’s input has resulted in the transition of many of the local pugilists to the higher level. He said that the programme focused on the all round development of the youths while pointing out that one important criteria was that the boxers be a part of the school system.
“We believe that sports and academics go hand in hand thus this particular prerequisite,” informed Ninvalle. He also said that over 180 boxers had participated in the inaugural tournament and organizers are anticipating the involvement of a similar number for the imminent championships. “Additionally, we are expecting boxers out of Mahdia Boxing Gym and Bartica Boxing Gym, two of the most recent institutions to be inaugurated into our fold while Barbados and ST Lucia have indicated an interest to participate,” Ninvalle disclosed.
GBA Tournament Organizer, Terrence Pole, echoed the remarks of his President while pointing out that two currently established pugilists, Tefon Greene and Michael Fraser among others have benefitted from the tournament. “This is a victory for the executive of the GBA and we anticipate many more of this nature in the future,” concluded Poole.