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.