The Tribune

WITH the Pan American Games trials all set for next week, Bahamas Amateur Boxing Federation president Vincent Strachan said they are still appealing for the financial support from the public to get the Bahamas team to Managua, Nicaragua.

Strachan revealed yesterday that the two-man team of Carl Hield in the welterweight 69-kilogram class and Lennox Boyce in the light-welterweight 54 kg, along with head coach Ervinette Kayla Johnson and himself as manager/assistant coach, are all set and ready to travel.

He noted that the boxers have spent the past month and a half training in Cuba and are primed and ready to compete.

"Carl Hield is making his final round for the Olympic Games in 2020 in Tokyo, Japan and Lennox Boyce is competing at the senior level for the first time," he said.

"While we make plans to travel to the tournament to give our country an opportunity to be represented in boxing at the Olympics, all this would not be possible if we do not get an additional $6,000 to cover the team expenses."

Strachan revealed that if those funds are not available two baking days prior to April 2, the team will not be able to leave and the federation would lose thousands of dollars on non-refundable tickets.

"I appeal to corporate Bahamas and the Government of the Bahamas to step into the ring and throw a blow for amateur boxing," he said. "The Ministry of Youth and Sports are sponsoring pro boxing, but doing nothing for amateur boxing in the Bahamas.

"They simply give lip service and empty promises. Some persons, including the Director of Sports, are out of the reach of amateur boxing and don't care what happen or not happen."

Strachan said the ministry has refused to help the national team and he hope that they can change their prospective on the youth of the country and lend them their financial support.