Coaches dispatched for training programme ahead of CAC Games

June 6 2026

The Guyana Boxing Association (GBA) has intensified its preparations for two of the biggest multi-sport events on the international calendar, dispatching four elite boxers and a coach to Trinidad and Tobago for a 10-day high-performance training camp.

The camp, scheduled for June 10-21 in the Twin Island Republic, forms a key component of Guyana’s preparation programme ahead of the Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games and the Commonwealth Games in July.

According to GBA President Steve Ninvalle, the training exercise is a crucial step in positioning Guyana’s boxers for medal contention as they prepare to compete against some of the region’s best fighters.

“This camp is an important part of our preparation process. It provides our boxers with the opportunity to train alongside and spar with quality boxers from across the Caribbean who are also preparing for major continental and international championships. We believe this exposure will significantly aid our boxers in their quest for medals,” Ninvalle stated.

The Guyanese contingent will be led by National Middleweight Champion Desmond Amsterdam, a member of Guyana’s team at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.

Joining Amsterdam is fellow Birmingham Games representative Collin Lewis, Caribbean champion Terron Wintz, and the squad’s lone female boxer, Akeelah Vancooten.

Accompanying the boxers will be former national champion and Coach of the New Amsterdam Boxing Academy, Jeff Roberts, who has been tasked with overseeing the team’s development during the camp.

Ninvalle described the initiative as a very important phase of the association’s overall preparation strategy, noting that the GBA remains committed to providing its athletes with every possible opportunity to succeed on the international stage.

While the association has not yet officially named its boxing teams for either the CAC Games or the Commonwealth Games, Ninvalle pointed out that all efforts are being made to ensure the country’s best athletes are adequately prepared to challenge for podium finishes. Ninvalle thanked the Guyana Olympic Association for assisting in making the Trinidad encampment possible.

The CAC Games are scheduled to be held in the Dominican Republic from July 24 to August 8, while the Commonwealth Games will take place in Scotland from July 23 to August 2, providing Guyana’s fighters with an opportunity to test themselves against some of the world’s top amateur boxers.