La Paene still training for SEA Games: Pertina

JAKARTA (JP): Boxer La Paene Masara is still part of the Indonesian Amateur Boxing Association (Pertina) training camp for the Kuala Lumpur Southeast Asian (SEA) Games, despite the fact that he has left the camp for personal reasons.

"Pertina is keeping La Paene on board because we need his presence at the Games. We consider him a boxer with the potential to win a medal at the Games," Pertina's boxing project manager, I.G. Mulyono, was quoted as saying by Antara news agency on Wednesday.

"He will not be severely sanctioned (for leaving training camp) because we understand he is still looking for a job to support his family."

La Paene has asked Pertina several times to help him find a job so he can support his wife Nuraini and their two children, 3- year-old Natasha and 8-month-old Galvin.

He again expressed his frustration on Monday, threatening to leave amateur boxing and turn professional.

La Paene's highest achievement to date was reaching the quarterfinals of the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta. At the 2000 Sydney Olympics, he crashed out of the competition in the second round.

Mulyono said Pertina was still trying to find La Paene a job that would allow him to maintain his training schedule.

"However, La Paene must demonstrate his commitment first by meeting all the disciplinary requirements set by his coach. He must come back to the training center and begin the training program soon.

"We will have no other option but expel him if he violates our rules," Mulyono said.

Separately, professional boxing analyst Syamsul Anwar Harahap said he expected the Professional Sports Development Board (Bapopi) to be disbanded following the dissolution of the office of the state minister of youth affairs and sports late last year.

"Bapopi is a useless institution that did nothing for the development of professional sports, especially professional boxing," he was quoted as saying by Antara.

"It only adds to the bureaucracy. Previously, promoters did not have to get Bapopi's approval when applying for a police permit to hold a professional boxing bout. But now the promoters have to get Bapopi's approval first.

"It has had no function as long as it has existed." (nvn)