The boxers accused of withdrawing from the squad preparing for next month’s Olympic Box-off in Trinidad, Clive Atwell and Hendrick Pelswijk, have said that their refusal to attend training sessions had to do with a decision that they must pay their own way to Trinidad.
According to national coach Carl Franklyn, 2007 Pan Am Games bronze medalist Atwell and Pelswijk who represented Guyana at last year’s World Championships in Chicago were supposed to start training with the national team from January 7, but have not attended one training session to date.
Contacted for a comment Pelswijk said the decision not to attend the sessions was based on him being told that he would have to fund his own way to Trinidad.
The boxer said he had been told early in January by president of the GABA, Affeeze Khan and later at a team meeting in February that he would be required to fund his own way to the box-offs.
Khan admitted to Stabroek Sport that he had indicated to Pelswijk that he would have to fund his trip to Trinidad.
Atwell said he was told the same thing by Khan.
“He said I needed to get US$400. He said my ticket was bought but that did not mean that I am going to Trinidad. He said the rule is if I did not train with the squad, I won’t be going to Trinidad,” Atwell told Stabroek Sport.
Franklyn said eight boxers were short-listed to be a part of the training squad and that only flyweight Dillon Allicock, featherweight Ray Sandiford, and welterweight Dennis Thomas turned up for the sessions.
“They were training actually every day, the remainder including bantamweight Clive Atwell, junior welterweight Hendrick Pelswijk, lightweight Aubrey Moore, and light heavyweight Orin Grenville never turned up,” said Franklyn.
Training consisted of roadwork at the National Park in the mornings and technical work at the National Gymnasium and at the Harpy Eagles Boxing Gym.
The coaching squad consists of Carl Franklyn, assistant coach Terrence Poole, Clifton Moore and Seibert Blake, said Franklyn.
Guyana Olympic Association (GOA) president K. Juman Yassin was concerned about the issue and invited the two boxers and Franklyn to a meeting.
Speaking to Stabroek Sport on the issue, Yassin said he was disappointed with the boxers.
“I am disappointed that the two boxers have had to withdraw from the squad. From my discussion with them and Mr. Franklyn, it would appear as if they were not attending training with the national squad and this has led to the difficulty,” Yassin said, adding that he had not received the official position from the GABA since president Affeeze Khan was out of the country.
Yassin said he had met the boxers in an effort to see whether he could convince the executive of the GOA to assist with funding for them to participate at the box off but said since the boxers had not attended any training sessions that would be difficult.
“I would have personally tried to see if I could offer assistance but I can’t go to the executive now.
“I don’t think the boxers are really serious,” Yassin added.
But Pelswijk reiterated that the reason he did not attend the training sessions was because he was told that he would be required to pay his own fare.
“Going to the Games and make no mistake this is no easy games, where I am an ambassador for my country but yet I am required to find my own passage and accommodation don’t make sense,” Pelswijk said.
Atwell, who also participated at the World Championships in Chicago, said upon the team’s return, Khan had highlighted the need to change the method of training.
But, he said, nothing much had been done to improve the training programme.
“It’s the same old nonsense. We ought to have started training weeks before.”
Atwell blamed the lax attitude of some officials who he said did not take the athletes into consideration at times.
“We live on the East Bank, they know the situation that currently exists in the country yet they are rigid about us travelling to the National Park to do road work from around 4.30-5am. It is just not safe,” Atwell argued.
He added that a request to train on the East Bank did not meet with a favourable response.
Atwell charged those responsible for the boxing to “
