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.