SINGAPORE — Purists will not be wrong come June next year should they detect a spot of Cuban in Singapore's boxers aiming for a gold medal at the SEA Games.
Not since Mohd Mukhlis won the 67kg title at the 1985 Games in Bangkok has a Singaporean boxer fought his way to the top step of the podium.
But if any of the Republic's athletes should break through next June, they will need to give thanks to their Sri Lankan counterparts, who not only hosted them for a training-cum-competition stint, but also willingly shared the expertise of their Cuban head coach Jorge Luis Frometa Matos.
For Syed Abdul Kadir, president of the Singapore Amateur Boxing Association (SABA), training in Sri Lanka was good and getting pointers from 42-year-old Matos was a bonus.
"Matos was so unselfish and he helped in coaching our boxers," said Kadir. "The things he taught or pointed out to our boxers will serve them well.
"The Cubans have always produced world-class boxers and world-class coaches too, and Matos has worked with the Cuban national boxing team before he came to Sri Lanka. I am impressed with his knowledge and coaching skills."
A squad of 11 — six men and five women — attended the two-week stint in Colombo from Nov 3 to 17, and Kadir is considering sending the boxers there again as the Games approaches to sharpen them up.
He added: "The Sri Lanka Boxing Association has been very helpful and I have spoken to its officials about using its national training centre again and getting the help of Matos if we need it in our final preparation for the SEA Games."
Last month's stint cost SABA S$15,000, including airfare and food, for the 11 athletes and three officials, money that Kadir considers well spent.
"We had competitions there too. The male boxers fought their Sri Lankan counterparts and also those from Seychelles, who were there at the same time, while the women boxers sparred with the Sri Lankan boxers," he said.
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