Holland and Sambo Team heads to 2014 Pan American Championship in TT

Some 40 countries will be vying for top honours in Trinidad when the Twin-Island Republic plays host to of the Pan American Sambo Championship at the University of Trinidad and Tobago, O’Meara Campus starting today.

The local contingent mostly made up of athletes from the Guyana Police Training School, Pan Am bronze medalist Paul Ignatius and overseas based Trevor Wilson wings out today and will see action tomorrow. The team manager is Rosevelte Jones, while Sensei Babb Luke will be the assistant coach.

In an invited comment, President of the Guyana Sambo Federation Carwyn Holland said he was hoping to field a team of over 40 athletes but lack of sponsorship and a breakdown in communication with the more seasoned competitors from the Guyana Defence Force prevented a larger team being sent. Holland said Guyana will be looking to medal once again as he expects podium finish for Ignatius, Wilson, Kareem Hoosein and the lone female Ottey McDonald.

Holland was also high in praise for the sponsors of the team, FIAS, Reaz Computers, the Lakeram Brothers Toolsie and Peter and the Guyana Police Force.

In addition to the Pan Am championship the Regional Congress will also be held among the heads of various federations in the Pan Am region.