Boxing remains in dire straits as Cuban coach’s tenure terminated

Jul 02, 2015 Sports

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By Michael Benjamin
Three years ago, in March 2012, the Guyana Government entered into a bilateral agreement with their

Cuban counterparts for two coaches, Isabel Maria Causa Fals (swimming) and Francisco Hernandez Roldan (boxing) to collaborate with their Guyanese counterparts towards the progressive development of those two fraternities. One would reasonably assume that the continuity of this initiative would hinge on the positive outputs over a specified period. Whether this was the case or not, officials of the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports have decided to pull the plug on the tenure of Señor Hernandez while inexplicably giving the thumbs up for the continuation of the tenure of his swimming colleague.
Hernandez was scheduled to depart Guyana sometime yesterday and one day earlier, was given a fitting send off at the New Thriving Restaurant, where he joined boxing and Government officials and was treated to a dinner. While the send off signaled the gratitude of boxing and Government officials, one wonders if indeed it was justified. While lauding the works of Señora Causa Fals, one is tempted to wonder aloud what was the rationale employed, and by who, in arriving at the final decision to dispose of the boxing coach while retaining the services of his swimming counterpart.
The issue becomes even more puzzling when it is noted that both coaches passed a recent evaluation process with flying colours and were tipped to resume their tenures. This writer was privy to a document, purportedly dispatched to Roldon, by an official of the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport (there was no signature to the document though written on the requisite letterhead) that lauded the efforts of both Cuban principals yet shortly afterwards, Señor Hernandez was sent back to Cuba while the services of Señora Causa Fals have been retained.
A senior official of the subject Ministry offered an explanation under an agreement of anonymity. He suggested that the programme was somewhat costly and after a thorough evaluation of the performances of the two coaches the decision was made. Strangely though, the letter dispatched to Hernandez spoke to the contrary. “The combination of coaches gave impetus to their respective fraternities; both coaches worked hard and both disciplines showed tremendous improvement in every area,” the correspondence stated. The coaches were also lauded for exemplary commitment and loyalty.
Someone is certainly not being truthful about this affair. Naturally, one would want to query such drastic actions to terminate Roldon’s services after such an exemplary evaluation of his work. As Guyanese would say, ‘There is definitely more in the mortar than the pistle.’
This writer has closely monitored the work of Roldon ever since he had arrived in Guyana. He was an ever present feature in the gym and introduced systems of evaluation for the boxers while engaged in training sessions. It was delightful to note his interactive sessions after training concluded where he attempted to make sense of the practical and theoretical sessions. The Cuban coach also led teams to victory in Barbados, St Lucia and French Guiana among other countries. One would have expected that he would have accompanied the boxers on their recent sojourn to Mexico for the Pan American Trials but he was inexplicably left in Guyana even after we were assured that Government officials had intervened to alleviate the requisite expenses and all would have been well.
Instead, recently commissioned three star coach, Sebert Blake, was tasked with the burden of managing and coaching the boxers in Mexico. This writer had closely followed the experiences of the team and would admit that it was far from complimentary for a national unit. But that is another matter!
It is no secret that the boxers failed to qualify with only middleweight, Dennis Thomas, registering a victory, albeit inconsequentially. The others, Diwani Lampkin, Jason Phillips and Delon Charles were all early casualties. Should that have been a failure of the Cuban coach?
Hernandez is a coach of high repute and his tenure in Guyana was preceded by a similar posting in Pakistan. Guyanese boxers have always been rated way above their Pakistani counterparts, an admission made by Roldon yet the Cuban coach revealed that he acquired better results from the Pakistani pugilists than those from Guyana; under his tutelage two of the Pakistani boxers won Commonwealth Gold medals in the 2010 Games in New Delhi.
“I spent less time in Pakistan but achieved more from their boxers,” admitted Roldon. Nevertheless, he remains adamant that Guyanese boxers are of a special quality and are more talented than their Pakistani counterparts. “I’ve developed a special love for (Guyanese) boxers; they are hard workers, humble and willing to learn.”
During one of our frequent discussions sometime in 2012, Roldon had lamented the absence of local boxers at international games. He had said then that those events would have enhanced the boxers’ skill level, while getting them acquainted with the international arena. He had suggested several high profile games in Costa Rica, Peru, Canada, Cuba, Venezuela, USA, Ecuador and Dominica Republic among others. These suggestions were forwarded to the executive of the GBA who in turn, following a directive from then Minister of Sports, Frank Anthony, had dispatched a copy to his office. Mr. Anthony had said that a document of that nature would have guided his policies when doling out assistance to the respective sports entities.
We were further told that only the Guyana Boxing Association (GBA) and the Guyana Football Rugby Association had complied yet the boxing fraternity failed to benefit from any substantial monetary initiative to support its programmes. Swimming benefitted from a modern day aquatic centre as well as other coaching initiatives, all government sponsored. Boxers are still plying their trade, amidst debilitating conditions, at the Andrew Lewis Boxing Gym and there has been no visible effort to enhance boxing facilities for quite some time now. It could be reasonably contended that Roldan was given a ‘holey basket to fetch water’ and his termination occurred because of his failure to do so.
There is much more that can be said of this issue but the reality is now that Roldon has gone, the burden of the boxers’ development rests on the shoulders of coaches, Terrence Poole (3 star), Sebert Blake (3 star) and Wensel Thomas (national coach).  It would be interesting to observe the three in action towards a unified goal, something that was not achieved before or during Roldon’s tenure. The pertinent question is, will Roldon’s departure signal the death knell of the sport? Only time will tell but the situation surely remains dire.

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