Low expectations for RI boxers in SEA Games
By Primastuti Handayani
JAKARTA (JP): National boxers are keeping a tight rein on their hopes for the 20th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Brunei Darussalam next month, aiming for only three of the 11 golds at stake.
The head coach, Ferry Moniaga, said last week that it could be hard to win even three golds, compared to six golds in the 1997 SEA Games, due to a lack of tryouts.
Three golds could possibly be won by La Paene Masara in the light flyweight, Hermansen Ballo in flyweight and old hand Albert Papilaya in the light heavyweight.
"We are lacking comparable sparring partners and tryouts. Some boxers competed in the Arafura Games in April and the national championships in Tanjungpura, South Kalimantan. But that's not enough," he said.
To overcome the hurdle, the Indonesian Amateur Boxing Association (Pertina) will stage a duel meet with 21 boxers from West Java and Jakarta on July 22 and July 23.
"If any boxer is injured in the duel meet, it's our risk and we won't have to worry about their performance in Brunei because from 11 boxers we only hope to win three golds," he said pessimistically.
"Each boxer will face a rival from the upper division," he added.
However, Pertina is still facing sponsorship problems to stage the event.
Compared to Indonesia's preparation two years ago, Pertina seems to lack confidence and the seriousness to show off its force this year.
Two years ago, Pertina sent its boxers for a three-month overseas stint in Cuba, where Thai boxers were also groomed.
National boxers stayed at the marine camp in Cilandak, South Jakarta, and received military discipline exercises. Pertina also hired two Cuban coaches: Isidoro Trotman and Julio Lee Hechavarria.
"Maybe we'll go to Cuba for preparations to the Olympics qualifying round in Tashkent in October, in Seoul in February 2000 and in Bangkok in June 2000," Ferry said.
Budget
This year, Pertina can only name the lack of funds as the reason for not sending boxers abroad for overseas stints. National boxers are staying at the Ragunan Sports School with other athletes.
But during The Jakarta Post's visit last week, the boxers did not seem serious in training. They trained at the edge of a soccer field and sometimes watched the soccer match, at which times their coach had to shout and yell to get their attention.
Ferry only said: "They needed a break because maybe they are bored with staying here for a long time. The boxing hall is under renovation today, that's why they are practicing outside," he said.
National boxers only have two days a week, Wednesdays and Saturdays, to fight with professional boxers to maintain their competitive spirit.
"It is not enough. That's why I want to stage the duel meet," he said.
Luckily, Pertina got support from the Indonesian Embassy in Thailand which sent copies of matches in the King's Cup.
"Usually we send our athletes to the King's Cup but this year Thailand did not invite any Southeast Asian boxers. Maybe they don't want their preparations watched by other countries."
Unfortunately, the videos were rarely watched due to "technical problems".
"The TV in our room can't be connected to a video player. We have to use the bigger TV in the common room. But we can't do that every time because many people use the room," Ferry said.
The former boxer named Thai and Filipino boxers as Indonesia's tough challengers in the biennial event from Aug. 7 to Aug. 15.
Can Indonesian boxers win three golds in the SEA Games?
"We'll see because it also depends on the drawing," Ferry said hopelessly.
Boxing team members: Moch. Rusli (finweight), La Paene Masara (light flyweight), Hermansen Ballo (flyweight), Anthonius Johni (bantamweight), Thomas Kaliambor (featherweight), Wilpare Jamhur (lightweight), Welem Papilaya (light welterweight), Bara Gomies (welterweight), Joko Suryono (light middleweight), Syarif Hidayat (middleweight) and Albert Papilaya (light heavyweight).