There is a call for the sport of Muay Thai to be removed from under the umbrella body of the National Kick Boxing Council of T&T (NKCT&T), being led by long-serving president Brendon Burke.
A group of former kick-boxers, including Rebecca Bhola, the country’s only certified coach and administrator in the sport of muay thai locally and Jason Fraser, the president of the Mixed Martial Arts Federation of T&T, want to manage the sport and bring it in line with the international body- the International Federation of Amateur Muay Thai (IFMA).
On Tuesday, Bhola told Guardian Media Sports that from an investigation done recently it was discovered that the sport has not been legally registered under the NKCTT at the Ministry of Legal Affairs. Also, because of unpaid fees with the IFMA, the organisation has been suspended from the international federation since in 2008.
A release from the international body recently states that because of the suspension of the NCKT&T and its level of inactivity, it is throwing its support behind Bhola in her endeavours to establish a new federation.
The release which is signed by IFMA Director Charissa Tynan reads: "We wish to confirm that our previous member national federation, the NKCTT under the Presidency of Mr Brendon Burke has been duly informed by our office that recommendation has been made to the executive Committee to suspend the federation in accordance with IFMA Constitution Article XIV with regards to unpaid dues, as well as inactivity and failure to participate in any IFMA events as far back as 2008."
It continued: "We have therefore opened up for new applicants to represent IFMA in T&T and following some recent communications with Mrs Bhola, we are happy to support her in her endeavours to establish a new federation with a structure and constitution that shall be in line with that of the IFMA. We hope that your Ministry will also support this endeavour, and we hope to have T&T back in the IFMA family once again."
Contacted on Tuesday Stephen Mohammed, secretary of the NKCT&T denied his council has been suspended, saying the matter is still pending. Mohammed said while he had to receive permission from members of his executives before speaking to the media, he can confirm that attempts were made to clear the fees at the IFMA, but monies they sent up were sent back to them.
Bhola said due to inactivity by the local body, she wrote to the international federation requesting information on what was being done about the development of the sport in the twin-island Republic. Her letter prompted an immediate response by the IFMA to Patrice Charles, the Director of Physical Education and Sports at the Sport Company of T&T.
Due to her interest to establish a local federation for muay thai here in T&T, Bhola was invited by the IFMA to attend the Senior World Championship in Bangkok, Thailand in July this year.
The IFMA in its invitation letter said, "This will be the perfect opportunity to introduce yourself to the IFMA leadership, as well as sit on the IFMA General Assembly, as well as gain knowledge of our organisation by enrolling in some courses on offer during the event i.e Referees and Judges Course and the iGLA Coaching Course."