GBA to stage four-nation tournament in April

Despite being on the ropes battling financial constraints plans are in the pipeline for the Guyana Boxing Association (GBA) to host an international schoolboys and juniors event in April.

According to president of the association, Steve Ninvalle, Trinidad, Jamaica and St. Lucia have been invited to compete along with Guyana in the four-nation event billed for April 29-30.

“We have only invited Trinidad, Jamaica and St Lucia,” said Ninvalle.

Steve Ninvalle
Steve Ninvalle
Sebert Blake
Sebert Blake

“We do this because of the fact that there’s some level of exhaustion on our financial department following our 13-nation tournament here last November.”

Ninvalle added: “April competition comes out from a meeting that we had while the top Caribbean administrators were here in November and it was highlighted the lack of activity in the schoolboys and juniors ranks across the Caribbean.

“So again we are pushing for the further development of the sport and with that in mind that is why we will be hosting this competition. We are ready and prepared to do what we can to assist in the development of the sport in the region.”

The GBA head reiterated that the reason he invited only those three territories “is because financially we are down for a count.”

Ninvalle also disclosed on Saturday that the GBA has appointed Sebert Blake as the head coach of the squad.

“Blake is one of our most qualified coaches and he has prepared and sent to us very detailed plans on how we move forward and whip these guys into shape going into April’s competition.”

It was also disclosed by Ninvalle that going forward, more efforts will be placed on the amateur boxers in the junior division.