Hiring of foreign coach for boxers delayed

KARACHI: Pakistan Boxing Federation (PBF) has been facing problem in the hiring of a Cuban coach which may harm its preparation for the 2016 Rio Olympic Qualifiers.
“Yes, we are facing a strange situation,” PBF’s secretary Iqbal Hussain told ‘The News’ on Monday.
“We want to have a Cuban coach. We have written to Cuba de Sports eight times and their reply is that they are not able to provide us a 3-star certified coach now. But they have promised that they manage one for us soon,” he said.
He was quick to add that the PBF could also opt for hiring a coach from Ukraine, Azerbaijan or Armenia. “You know, we are unable to afford expensive coaches. Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) will only afford to hire a coach for us whose demand is under 3000 dollars. We will manage one within the range,” Iqbal said.
Cuban coach Francisco Roldan has already served Pakistan but he is not available because of his contract with Male. “Roldan was our top option but he is serving in Male. He served Pakistan well in the past and also learnt Urdu language and knew our environment,” Iqbal said.
PBF also plans to send around six boxers to Bolton, England, for training. “We plan to send a few boxers to Boltan on our own expenses for three to four months for training,” Iqbal said.
“Our friend Jack Khan, who owns a boxing club in Boltan, will come to Pakistan in the first week of March to pick up to six boxers who have the potential to compete in the Olympic qualifiers,” Iqbal said.
“Jack’s club is close to the academy of England’s star boxer Aamir Khan. If Aamir is available we may also get his help,” the official said.
“The government has already agreed to sponsor a few of our boxers for six months’ training in Cuba ahead of the World Championship. It was expected that we would be able to send them at the end of January, but due to some complications the tour has been delayed. But I hope soon we will send our top boxers to Cuba,” Iqbal said.
Pakistani boxers will feature in the World Championship in Doha in October. The mega event serves as qualifiers for Rio. Early next year, they will appear in the Asian qualifying round for Olympics.
Iqbal said PBF wanted to send a full-fledged squad to Doha. “We want to field our boxers in all weights in the World Championship. It will not only augment our qualifying chances but will also provide ample exposure to our young lot which will help them in future,” he said.
Iqbal said that he wanted at least a couple of boxers in the Rio Olympics. “We want to end the long drought. And this time it is my mission to see at least a couple of our boxers in Rio,” he said.
The last time Pakistani boxers participated in the Olympics was in 2004 in Athens.
National pugilists have been training at Karachi and Quetta for the Olympic qualifiers.
“The camps are in progress at both places. I visit the Karachi camp every day and meet the boxers and the coaches. The boxers have been improving and I hope we will be able to pick a solid lot for the two training tours,” he said.
“We will pick the final lot for Doha after the training in Cuba and Boltan,” Iqbal said.
In Quetta’s camp, being supervised by Tariq Siddiqui, mostly junior boxers have been training along with the country’s star boxer Mohammad Waseem.
Mostly senior boxers have been kept in Karachi’s camp, being supervised by former international Ali Bakhsh. Iqbal said PBF was looking to launching its website soon.