Sunday, January 24, 2010

No U.S. visa: Clottey coaches denied for Dallas

No visa for Clottey coach

Two trainers for Manny Pacquiao's upcoming opponent, Ghana's Joshua Clottey, have been denied visas by the U.S. State Department. Godwin Dzanie Kotey and Daniel Clottey, key members of Team Clottey, may have trouble joining their fighter in Dallas for their March 13th date at the Dallas Cowboys stadium, according to East Side Boxing.
Kotey and Clottey serve as coach and assistant for the 35-3 welterweight. US authorities in Ghana are balking at visa approval for both trainers after their visas expired in fall 2009.
Team Clottey's visa situation underscores the importance of early administrative planning for non-U.S. boxers, especially given the nation's heightened security measures. Various U.S. agencies elevated their risk-related protocols following the attempted bombing of a U.S. airliner in December 2009. Visa applications can undergo a lengthy bureaucratic, and often whimsical, process.
In 2009, Manny Pacquiao was forced to train in the Philippines for his fight against Miguel Cotto due to a lack of planning by his advisors regarding U.S. tax rules and stay requirements. Millions of dollars in additional tax liabilities would have been imposed had the Filipino fighter overstayed in the U.S.
The visa situation will cost welterweight Joshua Clottey a few days of precious training. He is returning to his native Ghana over the weekend in the hopes of securing approval from local officials. A fighter's job is in the ring. Not in solving administrative tasks.
Source: examiner.com

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