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| SPORT TRIBUNE | Saturday, September 9, 2000, Chandigarh, India |
Bonds that bind African football By Emmanuel Wongibe DIRECTLY overlooking the concrete fence lining the football ground in Lome’s popular quarter of Kodjoviakope stands a row of tall coconut trees, their fronds blown gently by the ocean breeze. The trees are equally a boundary mark between Togo and Ghana — that is how thin the dividing lines between nations and peoples are in this part of the world. Selectors
had tough decision to make Gripped
by will to succeed Gopi
‘can win medal’ |
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Bonds that bind African
football DIRECTLY overlooking the concrete fence lining the football ground in Lome’s popular quarter of Kodjoviakope stands a row of tall coconut trees, their fronds blown gently by the ocean breeze. The trees are equally a boundary mark between Togo and Ghana — that is how thin the dividing lines between nations and peoples are in this part of the world. Teenagers from Nigeria, Benin, Ghana and Togo who make up the 80 members of the Centre de Developpment Sportif (CDS) — one of Togo’s three professional football training schools — are in an even stronger testimony of the African bond. The CDS is using the Kodjoviakope playground to train its pupils. The boys here are far removed from the often-harsh realities of their countries — a cross-section of the continent where children can turn streets into playgrounds and use anything they can lay their hands on as a football. With almost one ball for each player, with a well-demarcated and fenced football field, there is little these youngsters, who are mostly from poor families, can complain about. Seventeen-year-old Anyiwum Komi Thomas says: “We are not ‘spoiled’ children, considering the many facilities and equipment we have here, but I must admit that we are fairly well off.” Three days a week — on Wednesday, Fridays and Saturdays — these boys are out on practice under the watchful eyes of their trainer Camellio Akoussan. Each session consists of a combination of physical fitness exercises — jogging, high jump and body stretches — and an array of football techniques. Agbo Thomas, a 12-year-old Beninois, says: “The training the coach gives us here is far better than any I could ever get in my country.” Enrolment in the school is free of charge. Akoussan, who owns and runs the school, says. “All a child brings is a pair of boots, two jerseys and, most important, a letter from his parents that they accept full responsibility for any possible injury that could occur.” Akoussan, who is also an official in the Togolese Ministry of Sports and Culture, finances the school from his own pocket. As in professional soccer circles, adrenaline-pumping songs that accompany the celebration of victory are already a part of the daily routine that pupil Baba Tunde Aloya of Nigeria calls “part of the psychological build-up necessary for personal and collective motivation.” “Singing among friends makes us happy and we carry that cheerfulness with us into the game,” he adds. The football school has inculcated in each of these young boys a high degree of self-confidence, a drive to win a clear message that they have to work hard. Most of the children are also driven by a desire to play professional football in Europe. Akoussan says more than 10 CDS graduates have turned professional since the centre was set up 18 years ago. They include Djima Woyawole who is playing in France, Sena Yao in Switzerland, Lange Senam in Belgium and a number of players in the Togolese national team. Jean Robert Komijang (14), who has been a member of the centre for seven years, certainly sees himself adding to that number in the future. “I have developed great technical skills and I am confident that it will not be long before my dreams of becoming a professional goalkeeper start coming true,” he says. The European team that these teenagers admire the most is Holland — ironically the disappointment of Euro 2000 Cup. Seven-year-old Quede Brice cites Holland’s “team spirit” while eight-year-old Amijang Kojo, who joined the school at the age of five, singles out Dutch midfielder Edgar Davies as his favourite player for “his excellent ball control and outstanding physical abilities.” In this winner-takes-all world of sport where only the successful get to bask in the spotlight, the teenagers here seem to be from another era — in tune with the International Olympic Committee’s theme of ‘Celebrating Humanity’, highlighted ahead of the Sydney Games. The modest sandy playground of Kodjoviakope is already providing a venue for that sense of fraternity to begin to take root among kids from these four countries. — Gemini
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Selectors had tough decision to
make THE recent debate in the media over the omission of Kunjarani Devi from the list of women lifters for the Sydney Olympics is regrettable. And coach Taranenka has not made it easier for the selectors by preferring his choice in a fax message to the IOA President, Mr Suresh Kalmadi. Kunjarani herself appears to have behaved in a petulant manner with threats of taking the issue to the Supreme Court with the added corollary of having the selected lifters stopped from going. Even in the best of times selection of teams for international meets tend to leave some people dissatisfied but this selection was for the Olympics where women’s weightlifting is being held for the first time. And Kunjarani’s feelings on not being able to participate in what could be her final bow in a major international can be understood. She is shocked and hurt. In many ways she is a pioneer in women’s weightlifting in India and her 52 medal performances on the international stage were achieved with great determination and effort. Some 10 to 12 years ago, Kunjarani was an icon among women lifters, a source of inspiration to the newcomers. In fact Kunjarani was a path finder and today if India has a place in weightlifting, it is essentially because of the example set by Kunjarani.. These are facts and nothing can take away Kunjarani’s achievements. But the lifter should also realize that the selectors had a very tough decision to take and when they took it, all thirteen of them (Balbir Singh and National coach Sandhu and 11 others specially called for the job) reportedly put their signature on the verdict. The choice was between the three of them. Kunjarani at the age of 32, the most experienced, Karnam Malleswari, world record holder on a few occasions and also very experienced and 21-year-old Sanamacha Chanu who won three gold medals in the Asian championships at Osaka. Weightlifting, it must be accepted, is a highly technical sport and it is not always easy or advisable to go by records or medals won over the years. What must be considered is the current form of all the lifters in the world and the possible Indian equation while selecting the team for the Olympics. It would be unfair to cast aspersions on the selectors, particularly Balbir and Sandhu, both of whom must be having the highest regard for Kunjarani. Being based in Delhi, Balbir Singh, a pioneer of sorts in the sport, and the first Indian to total 900 pounds and also the first man to break K. Easwara Rao’s record in clean and press and clean and jerk, was the obvious spokesman for the federation. Given his credentials one must accept in good faith what he has to say on behalf of the selectors. He is right when he states that the selectors were not looking at personalities while making their decision. Kunjarani is a personality in weightlifting but here she was in direct contest with two other lifters whose performances, as far as the selectors were concerned, appeared more acceptable. He says as per world ranking Sanamacha is placed at No. 2 but the selectors did not give much importance to that rating. They selected the girl only after taking into consideration the present performances of the Olympic bound lifters. And her three gold medals at the Osaka Asian championships must have loaded the dice in her favour. She has, according to Balbir, great possibilities and could come up with a medal. The former national champion and now government nominee on the federation, Balbir was a bit surprised why the coach and the doctor could not help keep Karnam Malleshwari’s weight down. As per the requirement, Karnam at 63 kg bodyweight, was expected total 240 kg. In the first qualifying meet, the world championships at Athens last year, she totalled 230 kg, same weight as that achieved in the Asian Games at Bangkok. But in the Asian championships at Osaka , the second qualifying meet, she dropped her total weight by five kg. Now the federation has taken permission of the international body to field her in 69 kg, her present bodyweight which she can maintain.. Balbir hopes that Karnam would feel more stable and comfortable in that weight category where he expects her to reach 240 kg in the total. Kunjarani in the Athens meet had a total of 180 kg and finished an overall fifth. In the second qualifying meet at Osaka, she improved by 2.5 kg. This was in a period of five months. Now to expect her to increase the total poundage of 17.5 kg in the Olympics was something not acceptable, given the age factor. What Balbir and the selectors appear to be saying is that is not what the lifter is doing in the training camps that counts but the performance in actual competitions. There is no use saying that a particular lifter is totalling 200 kg when her progress chart over a specific period shows an improvement of only 2.5 kg. Balbir, of course, has a right to be peeved about the way India has lost out on the chance to have at least four women lifters qualify for the Olympics. He is particularly critical about the faulty initial weights recommended by the coach for the lifters in the Athens world championships. He mentions the case of N. Laxmi, who failed in all three attempts in the clean and jerk. Laxmi, according to him, had joined the camp after a long lay-off and should have been asked to take a lighter load for a start. Instead she was asked to start on 125 kg, a very heavy beginning, and just could not control it. He blames it on the faulty advise of the coach. He obviously has a
point. The federation agreed with him, it seems. Hence
the sacking of Hansa Sharma, the chief coach of the women
lifters, after the Athens fiasco. The federation has at
the same time recalled B.S. Sandhu who is now looking
after both the women and men lifters. Sandhu , it must be
remembered, was sacked after the Asian Games in Bangkok.
The federation however continues to place faith in
Taranenko, the highly paid foreign coach from Belarus. |
Gripped by will to succeed IT looks like any other shantytown gym — made of zinc, wood and cardboard. Buried deep in the impoverished area of Vergenoeg in East London, you have to take a mud path to reach the flimsy shack. A sign in flaming orange hangs over the front zinc wall, announcing: “Willie’s Gym.” It’s hard to believe that this shack has produced six top international weightlifters for South Africa. Those who train here say they want to be the best — and break free of poverty. It’s a miracle that some of them have achieved sporting glory: for inside, the small gym is congested and lifters train on the most primitive equipment. The room is dark, with a single light bulb hanging in the corner. The stench of sweat hangs in the air. The steady drumming of rain pouring onto the roof and hitting against the wooden walls mingles with the ear-splitting screams of the weightlifters as they push themselves to the limit. Water leaks through a tiny hole in the roof. There are no showers, rest rooms, music or any of the paraphernalia that modern athletes take for granted. All the weightlifters are young, mostly dressed in shabby, torn T-shirts and in bare feet. All look determined but only a small handful will become champions. Most will drop out — the bustling dusty streets of Vergenoeg are home to many petty and hardened criminals who were once members of the gym. their dreams of ‘making it’ crumbled because sponsors were unwilling to invest in them. “That’s Zarques Francis,” says Willie Boswell, who runs the gym, pointing to a well-built young man wearing a tracksuit in the national colours of green and gold. The concentration on Zarques’ face is fierce — evident even in the semi-darkness. Zarques rolls and shakes his head, and takes a deep breath. He bends forward. His neck begins to contract, his eyes slowly close and he begins to loudly mumble a mantra to calm his mind. Thick veins stand out on his arms and neck. He lifts the 100-kg weight off the floor, raises it to his chest and pauses. Then, letting out a deafening scream, he hoists it above his head. His legs quiver as he manages to hold the weight for several seconds. Clang! The weight drops to the floor. Above him a cardboard sign dangles: ‘No Pain, No Gain.’ Zarques has broken three South African records in the past two months. “Hundreds of young, ambitious athletes have come and gone,” murmurs Willie. “There’s nothing positive out there...just drugs, gangsters and crime.” A lot rests on Willie’s shoulders, including the fate of many local children and youths. Willie, who still competes in powerlifting tournaments, also runs a jewellery business in the city and throws a large part of his small profits into the gym. The equipment in his gym, bought in bits and pieces over the past 10 years, has set Willie back about $ 5,000. “These children and even their parents guard it and look after this place. This all belongs to them. It’s draining me financially, but I need to keep this gym going or these children could end up in all sorts of trouble on the streets...or even worse.” “Look at Zarques Francis and Roschell King: they have a great future because of this gym. They have become the role models to all the young children here. I can’t take that away from them. I love these kids and I feel it is my responsibility as someone from this community to play my role and help them.” Roschell recently broke a long-standing Eastern Cape Province powerlifting record when she lifted 300 kg. Last year, 21-year-old Zarques represented South Africa at the Commonwealth Games in Malaysia and returned with a bronze medal. He has trained in Willie’s gym for the past nine years but says he often feels frustrated when he returns to the gym after competing in competitions abroad. “I feel as if I’m moving backwards instead of advancing in this sport,” he says. “The training conditions here are inadequate. But I shouldn’t really complain because without this gym, my life would come to an absolute standstill.” Zarques has no sponsors but he attracted a lot of attention at the World Weightlifting Championship in Greece earlier this year. “It feels great to represent my country at these international events...but it’s also a pity that my own city...my own country and business here do not recognise or appreciate what we are doing — especially Willie’s efforts.” While training at the shack, Zarques has collected numerous gold, silver and bronze medals — both locally and abroad. Another of Willie’s stars is Samuel Cox (16), who won a bronze medal in the 52 kg division at the Millennium Commonwealth Youth Games in Scotland in August. A former street child, Samuel was found by his foster parents scrounging through a rubbish dump. “Samuel knew about his past and was very withdrawn,” says Willie. “I wanted him to be part of a bigger family — I didn’t want to see this child drifting back into the streets...” Reagan Brauns (17), is another who won a bronze in Scotland — in the 62 kg section. Willie says buildings and proper facilities are scarce and very expensive in the city. “But if I secure a cheap or reasonably priced venue near or in the city to move this gym, I’ll create a new problem. How will these kids get there? They come from poor families...they don’t have money for transport.” None of Willie’s lifters is going to Sydney, for Olympics 2000. But he is preparing Zarques, Roschell, Reagan, Samuel and a fifth — Mandla Nkosi — for the next Olympics. “They will definitely make it,” he says. — Gemini
News |
Gopi ‘can win
medal’ S.M. ARIF taking over as chief coach is the right thing to have happened to Indian badminton. And at the right time too, when Prakash Padukone took charge of all technical aspects of the game. (His guidance is still available to players though he has left BAI.) And as if gods had willed it, sponsors also came forward and a host of other incentives and opportunities opened up. The effort, sincere and honest, paid dividends. At Kaula Lumpur India secured four medals at the 1998 Commonwealth Games — silver in men’s team championship, bronze in women’s team championship, silver in women’s singles and bronze in men’s singles, as the shutters gave the best-ever performance. India improved upon its performance by qualifying for the semi-finals of Thomas Cup after a gap of 12 years during preliminary rounds at Delhi in February 2000. As a chief coach of Badminton Association of India Arif could justifiably feel proud that today Gopi Chand is 17th in the IBF ranking. And but for the unfortunate ban, Aparna Popat (of all things to have taken Coldarine tablets for the nagging cold) would be among 20s and a sure entry to Olympics, along with Gopi Chand who has qualified in style. (And the most deserved Arjuna Award has come as incentive at the right moment). Arif has grown in stature as a coach on the strength of his hard work and dedication. Although he belongs to a business family of Hyderabad, his liking and love for the game of badminton attracted him to coaching. “I am happy I took that decision. As a coach, I am in it all the time all the years” said he with contentment showing in his eyes. Sincerity shows. And hard work is always rewarded provided it is systematic and based on sound techniques and directed at well-defined goals. Andhra Pradesh badminton benefited the maximum from his style of coaching. His wards have so far annexed 111 titles at the national level in all age groups. The trickle of medals started in 1984 when Andhra Pradesh annexed the South Zone title. They went on to win four medals at the junior nationals at Kota which includes Narang Cup for the first time besides the boys doubles and sub junior boys singles and doubles. (That was the year Sunil Jyoti defeated Rajiv Bagga, who became national champion later, the twice, in zonal and at nationals in singles). The trickle became a torrent and the Andhra badminton never looked back. Today it is a force to reckon with in all age groups. Gopi Chand is Andhra’s crowning glory. His trainees from Andhra who have represented the country include Sunil Jyoti, Praveen Kumar, Manoj Kumar, Vijay Raghavan, Sreeshail, Olympian P.V.V. Laxmi, her sister P.V. Sharda, G. Jwala, Shruti Kurien and, of course, Gopi Chand. Arif’s coaching methods are scientific. He is a great believer in physical fitness; “More than any other sport, in badminton it’s the survival of the fittest”. He backs up physical fitness by playing on the psychology of the player. And he tries to get the best out of every player during well-planned training sessions. For that he sets specific goals. After telling them what they are expected to do he convinces them that they are capable of achieving it. And once they do it, he raises the target by another notch setting them all the time on the onward march. If someone does not get his best, Arif takes it as his own failure and searches for the answer which he usually finds. This goes on. There is no holiday except the prescribed rest day — Sunday — when the trainees still do light exercises and report compliance the next day. “He is invariably away on festivals. Last Id he left for Pune”, grumbles wife Fatima. Arif remains completely involved. Watching, analysing and explaining various aspects of the game through cassettes is one speciality of Arif, which has helped the trainees to know and correct their faults, improve on tactics and evolve strategies. He has a personal collection of over 70 cassettes covering important matches. And this hard taskmaster with keen shuttle sense is a soft-spoken man. He makes his point without raising his voice. He never makes a show of it. Even during breaks between games he talks softly to the players, never gesticulating or intimidating. He cuts out body movements that coaches usually resort to. Arif who played for Andhra did his coaches training at Patiala in 1971-72. He is a qualified umpire. But gave up umpiring to devote all his time to coaching. The present lot of players hold great hopes for the coach who is of the belief that Indian badminton is on the upswing. “Gopi Chand has matured and can beat anyone in the world on his day and aparna Popat is sure to go places too.” Then there are others like Siddharth Jain, Abhin Shyam Gupta, Nikhil Kanetkar, Chetan Anand, Anup Vaidya — all rearing to go and prove themselves at the international scene. “Doubles is our bug bear”, laments Arif. But holds great hopes on G. Jwala-Shruti Kurien pair. “Watch out this pair. They will make a mark at the world level”. While he is happy that money is coming to badminton, sponsors are backing the game, there is still dearth of shuttles. “Would you believe is one days training session Indonesians consume 200 to 250 boxes of shuttles? Wish that could happen to our players”. “My happiest day
would be Gopi winning a medal at Sydney. And mind you
that is not a mere wish of a coach. Gopi can do it”.
Arif is not alone in that wish. Gopi Chand has the entire
country behind him. |
sm
Tiger shows youngsters the way Three cheers to Tiger Woods of the USA for winning the 82nd PGA Championship. The 24-year-old American became the youngest-ever player to win three reputed golf titles in one season. Woods got $9 lakh while the 31-year old May picked up $ 5,40,000. Tiger Woods has many feathers in his cap. He won the US Open and British Open this season. Woods’ victory should encourage many players as the game brings fame, prestige, and Money. H.S. DIMPLE Pak victory Waqar Younis, the captain of Pakistan cricket team, along with his team-mates deserve high praise for winning the first one-day match against the mighty South Africa by 28 runs in the Singapore Challenge Cricket Tournament. This victory paved Pakistan’s way to the final. A partnership of 56 runs in the first 11 overs laid the foundation for the glorious victory. Subhash C. Taneja Ban on cricket The Calcutta High Court has imposed a ban on playing cricket in Calcutta’s streets and bylanes. Giving its verdict on a petition filed by one resident, Mr Justice K.J. Sengupta ordered the police to ensure that roads and lanes were not used as venues for reckless cricket matches between 4 pm and 11 pm. This order will apply to the whole of Calcutta. The resident had alleged that life and property of the people was under threat because of such cricket matches. He had further alleged that traffic was often disrupted as the roads and lanes were being used as playing fields. S.C. DHAL Kudos to Venus Three cheers to Venus Williams for winning her third consecutive title and stretching her winning streak to 15 matches by defeating Monica Seles in the final of the WTA Acura Classic at Carlsbad (California). The Wimbledon winner Venus Williams also won her 12th title at the $ 535,000 US Open hard court tune-up. She has, for all practical purposes, overtaken Martina Hingis for the top rank. SUNDER SINGH IOA not bothered In the report ‘Sunita Rani named in squad for Olympics’ it was stated that the Indian Olympic Association was deputing a Chef de Mission, besides a Deputy Chef de Mission and several supporting staff for the Indian squad in the Sydney Olympics. The economy of our country is not sound and sermons been delivered by the Prime Minister and the Union Finance Minister in this regard. However, the IOA seems to be least bothered. The Chef de Mission and the Deputy Chef de Mission have no contribution to the field of sports. NARINDER SINGH |
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