Pertina invites 'bad boy' of boxing for SEA Games camp
Pertina invites 'bad boy' of boxing for SEA Games camp
Musthofid, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
The Indonesian amateur boxing authority, Pertina, has called up
one-time-rebel Stevie Binalay to the training center ahead of the
upcoming Southeast Asian (SEA) Games.
Stevie, who was supposed to arrive here on Thursday, was among
the boxing hopefuls for the 2001 games until he deserted the
training camp. Without giving prior notice, he left for Padang,
West Sumatra, to sit the police academy entrance examination.
However, the new board of Pertina appeared to be willing to
overlook his past notoriety, and give the 24-year-old fighter
another chance thanks to his winning performance during the
recent Golden Gloves championship.
"He has proven he is a force to be reckoned with. The Golden
Gloves event revealed his power. We will be monitoring him to
ensure he doesn't spoil everything by losing his temper,"
training manager Soewardi told reporters here on Thursday.
"If he is deemed to be lacking discipline, then we will have
to bring him to heel," he said.
Stevie won a gold in the 75 kilogram category at the Golden
Gloves in Banjarmasin, South Kalimantan, on January. However, he
is likely to be entered in a lower category -- 64 kilograms -- in
which, according to Soewardi, he should have better medal
prospects.
Stevie is among the 19 candidates who will be seeking
inclusion in the national boxing team's fixed lineup for the SEA
Games, which will be staged in Hanoi, Vietnam, in December.
Except for Hermensen Ballo, the boxers have been training in
Jakarta. Most of them started training either last August or a
couple of weeks ago.
Hermensen, one of the seniors in the team, has been allowed to
train in his home town of Kupang, East Nusatenggara.
Five trainers are currently coaching the boxing hopefuls: Wiem
Gomies, Ronny Sarimole, Jhony Waney, Henky Sambeka and Mesak
Yawan.
When asked about the need to hire a foreign trainer, Soewardi
said that such a possibility should now be open given that the
National Sports Council (KONI) had pledged to provide financial
aid for the recruitment of foreign coaches.
"We may turn to either Cuba, Mexico or Germany," he said.
Pertina had once employed Carlos Penate Torre of Cuba, whose
contract expired after the 2002 Asian Games. With him, language
should no longer be a constraint. Torre's chances of returning to
Indonesia were wide open, Soewardi said.
Pertina has planned three overseas workouts: the Arafura Cup
in Darwin, the Malaysian championships and the World Cup in
Bangkok, all before October when the number of boxers will be
whittled down to nine.