Go Teng Kok bares thoughts on the Asiad at SCOOP
By Eddie Alinea
PhilBoxing.com
Mon, 20 Sep 2010
Philippine Amateur Track and Field Association president Go Teng Kok admitted that only one of the eight Filipino runners, jumpers and throwers he recommended for inclusion in the national delegation is capable of bringing home a medal in the coming 16th Asian Games set November in Guangzhou, China.
?To tell you honestly, only Maristela (long jumper Maristela Torres) has the brightest chance of winning the gold medal,? the controversial PATAFA head said during Friday?s SCOOP Sa Kamayan weekly session at the Kamayan Restaurant-Padre Faura.
?However, I had to fight for seven of my athletes because they earned the right to also see action in the Asian Games on the strength of the criteria set by the POC (Philippine Olympic Committee) itself,? Go said in answer to questions posed by media men in the forum, sponsored by Mang Inasal, PLDT and FILA.
The POC had set the gold medal finish in the 2009 Southeast Asian Games as the standard to make it to the Asiad.
?What would my athletes tell me had I did not fight for their inclusion?? he asked even as he lambasted members of the POC working group which was tasked to oversee the selection of members of the national contingent, which had initially approved only two track and field athletes as qualified to join the trip to Guangzhou.
?None of those composing the working group represents a NSA (National Sports Association) that is why they are in no position to decide on membership in the national delegation,? Go rued in reference to Joey Romasanta, the POC spokesman, his assistant Clarito Samson, Mauricio ?Moying? Martelino and Chippy Espiritu.
?All of these men do not have the technical know how to determine who among athletes of the different NSAs can best represent the country in the Games,? Go stressed. ? Samson, as a former newsman might be good in writing. Martelino is a known organization man. But to make them decide on the composition of the delegation, I don?t think they are the best persons to have been tasked with the job.?
Romasanta, besides heading the working group is also the RP contingent?s chef de mission.
?But that?s beside the point. As I told them when they met me to defend my recommendation, my athletes met the criteria that they themselves set. How come they will be left out when all of them, except one, won a gold medal each in Laos,? he said.
Go said that it was on the strength of this argument that Romasanta?s group eventually approved the inclusion of hammer thrower Arniel Ferrera, steeplechaser Rene Herrera, marathoners Eduardo Buenavista and Jho-Ann Banayag and javelin throwers Danilo Frenido and Rosie Villarito.
Henry Dagmil, who failed to win a gold medal because of injury, was also recommended being the best male long jumper in the region.
Go also said that the discrepancies in the working group?s decisions do not apply only on his athletes, but on several other NSAs.
?The group has approved recommendations of many NSAs even it those named did not win gold medals in SEA Games. There are cases also where SEA Games gold medalists were left out. If that is not discrimination, those concerned do not know what is,? Go lamented.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Eddie Alinea.
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