Canadian coach crucial in Indonesian bridge success
JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian men's bridge team, which finished a creditable second in the just-concluded 10th Bridge Olympics on Greece's Rhodes Island, attributes much of its accomplishment to internationally acclaimed bridge coach Erick Kokish of Canada.
It was the best ever finish for Indonesia since it made its debut in the 1982 Olympics. A total of 71 countries took part in the Rhodes event.
Indonesian Bridge Association chairman Let. Gen. Wiranto told reporters at Soekarno-Hatta airport's VIP arrival lobby yesterday that "Eric Kokish has played a pivotal role in improving the performances of our men's players. He is particularly good at systematically enhancing our players' technical skills."
Wiranto, who is also Chief of the Army Strategic Reserves Command, and National Sports Council chairman Wismoyo Arismunandar, welcomed the team, which arrived at the airport late yesterday afternoon, in a celebration ceremony.
The team consisted of veteran pair Hengky Lasut and Eddy Manoppo, seasoned pair Denny Sakul and Franky Karwur and juniors Giovanni Watulingas and Sance Panelewen. It lost to France in the final after being unable to fully recover from the exhaustion following a grueling and absorbing semifinal playoff against Denmark, which left them with only half an hour's rest before the final.
When asked whether the association would continue to use the services of Kokish, Wiranto said: "No, not for the time being. I believe we have made the most of his coaching abilities and we will try to groom our juniors with the methods he has taught us."
Kokish has coached the national team for two years on a part- time basis. He was hired for US$80,000 in October 1994 to improve the skills of the national team.
Under his tutelage its world standing has soared from 64th to 9th after the Bridge Pairs Olympics in Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA in the same year.
World standing
Now, after the Rhodes Olympics, Indonesia's world standing has rocketed to second from in the 40s in the 1992 Olympics in Italy, in which it finished 14th after the qualifying round.
Wiranto said the association and the National Sports Council would award the team with insurance policies and bonuses the amount of which "would be enough for their living." He declined to elaborate further.
Indonesia is now setting its sights on winning the 2001 Bermuda Bowl world men's team championship at home.
The association's training director Roy Tirtadji said Indonesia would continue to bank on the aging veterans Hengky Lasut and Eddy Manoppo even though Lasut is 49 and Manoppo is 51.
Lasut told reporters that he would not retire until Indonesia snatches the coveted Olympic title. Manoppo, on the other hand, said it has never occurred to him to think about calling it a day.
Tirtadji said even though the association has prepared prospective successors for Lasut and Manoppo such as 30-year-olds Franky Karwur, Giovanny Watulingas and Sance Panelewen. It also has a string of promising young blood, including Dadan Waradia, Taufik Aspi and Maudy George.
When asked why almost all of the team is Manadonese, Tirtadji said bridge has been popular in Manado since 1950s and perhaps "because Manadonese seem think better when it comes to bridge." (arf)