Three basketball stars set to quit SEAG training<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Basketball Association's
\npreparations for the October SEA Games (SEAG) have been severely
\ndisrupted by resignation requests from three of the 20 players
\nparticipating in the centralized training program.<\/p>\n
Andre Posuma and Hardono want to concentrate on their studies
\nwhile Oei Theng Khun wants to oversee his family business.<\/p>\n
Andre, who attended yesterday's practice at the Senayan
\nBasketball Hall, said that he could not aford to leave the STIE
\nSwadaya economics college as he has to finish his thesis. He said
\nhe could be dismissed if the thesis is not submitted next year.<\/p>\n
"I told Cecep (Firmansyah, the coach) Tuesday and he suggested
\nI submit an official resignation letter to the association,"
\nAndre said.<\/p>\n
Hardono and Theng Khun did not show up at yesterday's
\npractice.<\/p>\n
Another reason for Andre's decision is his objection to the
\nassociation prohibiting players from appearing in the national
\nKobatama league during the training program, which runs until the
\nGames begins on October 11.<\/p>\n
"If we miss the competition because we have to concentrate on
\nthe training, what will happen to our status as club players?
\nWhat will happen if our teams win, will we also get the bonus? I
\ndo not think the association has considered this," he said.<\/p>\n
He denied that his resignation is because of differences with
\nthe Russian coach Nikolai Arkhipov, who trains the men's team
\nwith Cecep and Abdulrahman Padang.<\/p>\n
"His coaching methods are a little different but all the
\nplayers can adapt. The problem is that we waste time because he
\ncan't speak English well and we don't understand his
\ninstructions", Andre said.<\/p>\n
The association planned to provide a translator for the
\ntraining but has not done so.<\/p>\n
The SEA Games training director Djoko Pramono said during a
\nvisit to the basketball training center yesterday that he has not
\nheard of any resignation requests.<\/p>\n
"If any players want to resign, I'll have to speak to the
\nofficials. Today I haven't seen any of them wanting to quit," he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Djoko said that the association is considering moving the
\nwomen's training from Jakarta to Surabaya as most of the women
\ncome from Surabaya and have problems joining the training because
\nthey have to sit their final examinations.<\/p>\n
"If the association agrees, I suggest we move the training
\ncamp to Surabaya. Most players and the coach are from the city.
\nIt won't be a problem for me as long as the association can still
\ncontrol the training," he said.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Indonesia's top table tennis player Anton Suseno
\nurged the Indonesian Table Tennis Association to change its Games
\ntraining program.<\/p>\n
The association always send athletes to train in China but
\nthey never have had adequate sparring partners, Anton complained.<\/p>\n
"We always only meet juniors during the stints," he said
\nyesterday.<\/p>\n
The association plans to send the national team to China in
\nFebruary or March for several weeks before they take part in the
\nWorld Championships, which is to be staged in May in Manchester,
\nEngland.<\/p>\n
After the championships, the athletes return to China for
\nfinal preparation for the Games.<\/p>\n
Anton said that the association must invite internationals
\nfrom East European countries or China to spar with Indonesia's
\nnational athletes.<\/p>\n
"After the sparring, the association must then send us to
\nGrand Prix series events to assess our improvement," he said.<\/p>\n
According to Anton taking part in the series is very important
\nas it improves players' world rankings.<\/p>\n
"If I can't improve my ranking, I don't want to go to the
\nWorld Championships. My rivals are much better," he said.<\/p>\n
Anton is ranked 107th while the Indonesian men's team is
\nranked 29th.<\/p>\n
"If the athletes take part in the Grands Prix and we can
\nimprove our rankings, I'm sure the association and the country
\nwill be very proud and it can boost the development of table
\ntennis," he said. (yan)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/three-basketball-stars-set-to-quit-seag-training-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}