Kwesi Mugisa, Staff ReporterFOLLOWING WHAT has been deemed to be a successful two weeks, the Jamaica Boxing Board of Control (JBBC) wrapped up its Olympic Solidarity course with a presentation ceremony at the Alhambra Inn on Friday.
The course had featured 30-year-old Argentine boxing coach Santiago Nieva and was geared at enhancing the technical aspects of the sport from a coaching standpoint. Eighteen of 19 coaches who took part in the course were certified and Nieva was very impressed with the crop.
"The guys worked very hard and I especially enjoyed the practical work," the Nieva said.
"The course was of very good quality and I believe these coaches are now ready to take amateur boxing to the next level in Jamaica," he said.
Graduating from the course were Gavin Liscombe Jamaica Defence Force (JDF), Alexander Rhoden (JDF), Richard Clarke - Stanley Couch Gym (SCG), Lincoln Fairweather (JDF), Muhammad Dawes (SCG), Cornell Maitland (JDF), Kingsley Barrett (JDF), Kingsley Fagan G.C. Foster College (GC), Daniel Grant (JDF), Reynold Rodrigues (GC), Nicholas Chattoo (JDF), Nard Senior (JDF), Fabian Morgan (JDF), Bernard Williams (JDF), Kevin White (JDF), Ryon Frater (JDF), Job Walters (Joes Gym) and Kingsley Goodison (JBBC). Barrett and Morgan received special commendations for outstanding performances and Chattoo the most outstanding graduate award.
While congratulating the coaches on their certification, president of the JBBC, Colonel Ken Barnes, encouraged the coaches to continue to work for the sports development, even when the best facilities were not always available.
"Cuba have been at the top of the amateur boxing for many years now and they have done it with hard work, more than anything else," Barnes said.
