Taufan unsure of future despite sport victories
Taufan unsure of future despite sport victories
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN (JP): Vigor and confidence help Indonesian
karateka Arif Taufan Syamsuddin excel in sports, but the bank
clerk remains doubtful over his future when it comes to his job
career.
Realizing that his golden years will soon be over, Taufan
plans to continue his studies at the Makassar Institute of
Economics in his hometown Ujungpandang, South Sulawesi.
"I should think of my future now. Today I am the star in the
karate arena but when my era is over, nobody cares. So I won't be
an athlete for life. One day I should stop fighting and give the
opportunity to younger athletes," he said after winning the men's
60-kilogram division at the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games here on
Tuesday.
It was his second consecutive laurel in the SEA Games after
his victorious debut in Jakarta two years ago. In between he
crowned himself Asian Games champion in Bangkok last December.
He said he must finish his studies by the end of this year,
otherwise he will lose his job.
His worries have increased since the government decided to
merge Bank Dagang Negara, where he works, with three other state
banks, into Bank Mandiri.
"I must follow the recruitment procedures from the start if I
want to maintain my career in banking. I have to apply for the
job at the new bank and pass a series of tests and interview for
the job," he said.
The 24-year-old karateka says it will be hard for him to
choose between the sport and his job commitments.
"Whenever my services are needed, I will be ready. But I wish
FORKI (the Indonesian Karate-do Federation) could ask for
privilege to attend the training program for me."
When retirement age comes, Taufan says he will never forget
the role played by his former coach Ellong Tjandra, the man whom
he says deserves all the credit for his flying career.
Every time Taufan walks out of the arena with a victory, the
first thing he does is look for Ellong and give him a big hug.
"Pak Ellong trained both my father and me, when my father
worked at the Wirabuana Military Command in Ujungpandang. I
started training with him in 1990," he said.
Ellong was present on Tuesday to encourage his former prodigy,
and received another hug from Taufan at the end of his bout.
Taufan says Ellong has accompanied him on all international
competitions since 1996. The old master also witnessed, with a
big smile on his face, Taufan win the gold medal and best
performer in the 1999 Danish Open karate championship in
Copenhagen last May. (ivy)