Cox: Time Sports Ministry help Manswell

KIRSTON MANSWELL’S coach has expressed total disgust with the unfulfilled promises by the Ministry of Sport to his fighter.

And Winston Cox firmly believes that it is time the Minister of Sport start backing up their talk to the recent Caribbean Amateur Boxing Association gold medallist. President of the Amateur Boxing Association Mike Jarvis was instrumental in bringing Manswell to the Tigers Gym, Port-of-Spain, from Tobago so that the then 18-year-old fighter could hone his skill. As a result, Manswell slept at the gym...that was seven years ago. Cox said he also has been sleeping at the gym along with Manswell, despite promises by the ministry for better accommodation and this coupled with a poor diet and having to work hard on the CARICOM jetty has resulted in a considerable breakdown both mentally and physically for Manswell. He also spoke of the poor treatment meted out to both Manswell and himself by the Boxing Board, who he says have turned a blind eye to the plight of the two-time Caribbean gold medallist and Commonwealth Games and CAC silver medallist.

Manswell who is jointly coached by Cox and Vicente Martinez of Cuba, is one of the Caribbean’s top boxers and the only fighter from the region to qualify for the Pan Am Games, despite his poor living and working condition. Cox also expressed the belief Manswell should have won  the WITCO Sportsman of the Year award. He said both the Sport Minister Roger Boynes and Member of Parliament for Port-of-Spain South Eric Williams are oblivious of the situation. And he is calling on them to visit the gym to see first hand what Manswell has to deal with on a daily basis. Cox said both the two government officials will be more aware of things and effect immediate action to alleviate the situation faced by Manswell, a  national hero.