The Guyana Boxing Association (GBA) is still fighting on the ropes to bring its four boxers home from Cuba.
But as the world grapples with the COVID-19 pandemic, air and seaports continue to be closed which further backs the association into a corner.
With the recent announcement that the Cheddi Jagan International Airport will continue to be closed to non-essential travel at least until May 1, this has further delayed the arrival of the boxers who departed on January 4 on a three-month training stint.
In an update, President of the GBA, Steve Ninvalle told Stabroek Sport yesterday that “We were optimistic of having the team home this week but learnt of the extension of the closure of the airport yesterday.
“We have tried and will continue to attempt making contact with the Director of Sport, Christopher Jones as it relates to having our boxers home in the shortest period of time possible. The GBA respects the decision to extend the period of closure of the airports as the seriousness of COVID-19 cannot be over emphasized.”
The quartet of Keevin Allicock, Colin Lewis, Desmond Amsterdam and Dennis Thomas were scheduled to return to Guyana on March 19 before traveling to Argentina for the March 26-April 3 Olympic Qualifiers.
Those scheduled plans were all thwarted following the pandemic which has claimed in excess of 40,000 lives worldwide to date.
Ninvalle added that “We are in daily contact with Team Leader, Colin Lewis, who has confirmed that they have remained focused even in the trying period but even though they are focused, they would have rather be focused at home.
This entire episode has and continues to test our limits on all frontiers,” he stressed.
Ninvalle also disclosed that the pugilists are now being housed in the capital city of Havana compliments of the Guyana Embassy on the Spanish speaking island.
This arrangement was made following the intervention of Jones.
On the home front, the association has extended non-essential training and sparring by a further two weeks. The directive was issued to all gyms yesterday.
