Cuban coach wants support, hopes to stay

Cuban coach wants support, hopes to stay

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Cuban Carlos Penate Torre, whose coaching contract with the
Indonesian boxing team expired early this month, said he was
hoping to extend the contract, provided that the national boxing
body showed more support for his program.

Torre saw out his third year term of contract with the
Indonesian Amateur Boxing Association (Pertina) on Oct. 30, and
now awaits a possible extension.

Despite his confession about his "disappointment" with
Pertina, the 42-year-old said he would take another challenge if
he was given the door.

"If I'm given the chance, I will try once more. But I appeal
(to Pertina) to give me full authority in the training program,"
he told The Jakarta Post on the sidelines of the National Boxing
Coaches Course here on Wednesday. The ten-day course, which
started on Monday, is being attended by 32 coaches nationwide.

Torre said Pertina, then led by the outgoing board officials,
was at a crossroads regarding his training program.

"I have brought a training methodology from Cuba, which is
home to many world and Olympic champions. But that does not work
here because the lack of support," he said.

Indonesian boxing has been the center of criticism after the
failure at the Busan Asian Games recently, where Bonyx Saweho and
Bara Gomies, the only two Indonesian boxers sent for the
competition, ignominiously exited in the first round.

Torre is considered by some as being responsible for the flop,
which he disagrees with.

"The problem is not with me. It all has to do with the support
structure behind it. They were not consistent with the program,"
he said.

"I had 20 good boxers at the training camp, but they only sent
two to Busan. The others were dropped. How can we meet the
challenge with only two boxers? he said.

Torre also complained about a lack of overseas experience for
the boxers ahead of their Asian Games duty as well as the rarity
or organizing local tournaments.

"The boxers had only two overseas tests before heading to Cuba
for a training camp. That's far from adequate. Others, like
Thailand, Pakistan and the Philippines had as many as thirteen
high level tuneups," he said.

"But I perceive the current Pertina board has a good program
for the future. I would be happy to help," he said.

Torre said he would take a one-month rest in his native town
of Matanzas, about 50 kilometers east of Havana before finding
out if his days as Indonesia's coach will continue.