Keon: I’ll serve if PSC asks me

Former Gintong Alay head Mike Keon, appointed national training director during PSC chair Carlos Tuason’s term, says he is still willing to do his share to help Filipino athletes prepare for the Asian Games if recalled to duty by new PSC chair Eric Buhain.

Late last year, Keon, who runs Ilocos Norte’s sports development program for his cousin Gov. Bongbong Marcos, was appointed national training director for the Asian Games by Tuason, citing his contribution to Philippine sports in the early 80’s.

"And that is what I am thankful to Mr. Tuason for -- he had the guts to bring me back on board the national sports scene. Believing that I would be able to help our athletes, he was also able to convince me that I could do justice to both jobs, here in Manila for PSC and in Ilocos Norte," said Keon even as, with the sudden resignation of Tuason, his status and position became uncertain.

In fact, Keon has been meeting a lot of the National Sports Associations’ heads regarding the training program of their athletes, among them Go Teng Kok, Sun Chung Hong, Steve Hontiveros, and Manny Lopez at the same time that a joint PSC-POC Task Force has been put in place where Keon works with other NSA presidents Tom Carrasco and Nestor Ilagan.

"I believe we were moving in the right direction and progress was being made. In fact Mr. Tuason was even in Baguio and met with the different athletes at the training camp. I felt he was also getting his act together and that is why I was surprised about his resignation," added Keon.

He also clarified that he cannot resign from his position as national training director simply because he has no job to resign from in the first place.

"I was informed that my original contract which expired last December 31, 2001 had not been renewed together with the contracts of the other PSC consultants. When I asked Mr. Tuason about it, he said it simply slipped off his mind with all the things he was attending to. So I returned to Ilocos already," said Keon.

Regarding the new PSC chair, Keon also welcomed his assumption of position.

"It is also good that somebody young, a former national athlete at that, and with so many new ideas about improving Philippine sports, is now at the helm of the PSC. For one, the relations between him and the athletes should be better than in the past. I believe Eric was a good choice and I wish him all the luck in his new job," he said.

For himself, Keon expressed his willingness to "help Philippine sports in any way I can."

"If people want me, they can just ring me up. If not, I will simply continue with my sports program for the Ilocos region especially now with the IRAA coming up late this month," he said.