Lifting body mulls coach's contract

JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Weightlifting, Power lifting and Bodybuilding Association is leaning toward not renewing the contract of Bulgarian coach Nedelcho Kolev to give local coaches more experience.

Association spokesman Budi Santoso, speaking after a meeting Wednesday, said the contract ended on Dec. 31, and the association believed it should give more opportunities to local coaches to train lifters.

But no definite decision on the contract issue was reached at the meeting as members were still considering benefits of extending Kolev's term.

"We still need to mull whether we need to extend the contract, including asking the athletes," Budi said.

The association's main problem is payment of Kolev's monthly salary of US$3,000. The depreciation of the rupiah has caused a steep rise in this expenditure.

Budi said Kolev was a qualified coach but local coaches needed more chances to demonstrate their skills in training athletes.

"I believe our coaches, who assisted Kolev during the 19th SEA Games in October, have learned the methodology from the Bulgarian coach," he said.

The association plans to select only the most qualified athletes to compete abroad this year in a move to greater efficiency.

"There are some important events abroad in 1998, and we'll send athletes to compete, especially those who have been listed in the world rankings. They must compete in the world championships," Budi said.

Antara reported the association had started its national training for the 13th Asian Games in Bangkok next December. Fifteen lifters are based at the centers in Lampung and Bogor. (yan)