Consultant blames PASI for Sakeh's training troubles

Consultant blames PASI for Sakeh's training troubles

Moch. N. Kurniawan, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Runner Ahmad Sumarsono Sakeh is experiencing a difficult
adjustment in the first few months of his two-year training
program in Germany, a sports consultant to the education ministry
says.

Hans-Peter Thumm attributed the problems to Sakeh's late
arrival at Dieter Baumann training camp in Stuttgart and his weak
physical condition, but added the Indonesian Athletics
Association (PASI) should have moved quicker in sending the
athlete overseas.

The delay has led to Sakeh playing catch up with the other
athletes -- world-class runners from Africa -- in his group who
arrived earlier.

"When Sakeh arrived in Germany at the end of January to train
for the 800 meters, he had to deal with low temperatures which
reached minus 10 degrees Celsius," the German, who recommended
Sakeh to train in the Baumann camp, said on Monday evening.

"Besides, his fitness was relatively weak as he tried to catch
up with the Baumann program that had been running for two
months."

Thumm expressed his disappointment with the lackadaisical
response of PASI in sending Sakeh, who was accepted for the
program in November 2004.

"Now Sakeh must work harder in Germany for mistakes he didn't
make," said Thumm, who visited the camp recently.

"If PASI could have sent him earlier instead of at the end of
January, the story would be different."

Head of development affairs for the National Sports Council
(KONI) Djoko Pramono said separately that he received a short
message service (SMS) from the athlete, complaining about his
difficulties.

"He is going through a tough period in Germany at present and
is very homesick," he said.

"But I told him to be patient in Germany as people at home are
waiting for his best contribution to the country."

Thumm said Sakeh trained with his group three times a week,
had private coaching with Baumann -- the former middle and long
distance runner who won gold in the 5,000 meters at the 1992
Olympics -- twice a week and also trained on his own twice a
week.

Thumm said Sakeh appeared determined to overcome the initial
problems of adjustment. "We will see his improvement in the next
three weeks."

He believes Sakeh has what it takes to become a champion in
the 800 meters after moving up from the 200 meters and 400
meters, in which he won gold in the 2004 National Games in
Palembang.

"He is young and has the potential, while at the same time the
men's 800 meters in Asia is still weak," he said."