“The worst officiated tournament I have ever been to,” was how Guyana’s first AIBA Three-Star Coach, Terrence Poole, dubbed the just-concluded Caribbean Boxing Championships which was staged in Trinidad.
Poole, who has coached numerous national outfits internationally, was adamant that most of his charges were ‘blatantly robbed’ during the four night annual fixture which ended on Sunday.
After winning the championship last year, and poised for a repeat, Team Guyana’s 13-member team finished with just three-gold medals.
Poole told this publication yesterday that the officiating was so horrible that the cash-strapped local association decided to protest and post the US$1000 protest fee needed in the hope of the reversal of some of the controversial decisions. They lost the appeal and subsequently the US$1000.
It was a forgettable sojourn for the pugilists and the coaching staff in the Twin Island Republic.
Poole pointed out that he is well traveled and very experienced in the sport of boxing and how it is judged but Trinidad was unlike any other.
“I’ve been to places like Cuba, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Kazakhstan, Scotland, Peru, Nicaragua, Bolivia, Mexico and other places and never seen such bad officiating.”
He recommended that going forward that there should be AIBA officials overseeing and reporting about proceedings so as to ensure transparency and fairness at the championships which was birthed in Guyana.
Poole, who is also the Technical Director of the Guyana Boxing Association (GBA) stated that the sixth edition of the event is scheduled for St Maarten next year and he is confident that once Guyana gets a fair shake, the coveted team honors will return to these shores.
“It was so ridiculous, the officiating and I know we didn’t lose in a fair manner and I confident we will win it back next year.”
Keevin Allicock and the Jackman sisters, Alesha and Abiola were Guyana’s gold medal winners at the event.
