RP coaches will answer for debacle — Keon

Foreign and local coaches who will not deliver for the Philippines in the coming SEA Games could be in great danger of losing their spots in the national pool.

Training director Mike Keon said coaches should be held accountable if their athletes perform way below expectations in the SEA Games where the Philippines is eyeing the overall title.

"The coaches and the athletes will all have to perform. And they’re all accountable. If you want a successful sports program people have to be held accountable," Keon told mediamen last Friday.

"And if coaches cannot deliver, then I will be the first to recommend that these coaches be removed," said Keon as the 23rd staging of the SEA Games drew closer. It is scheduled Nov. 27 to Dec. 5.

Philippine Sports Commission chairman Butch Ramirez of the Philippine Sports Commission had previously sounded off the same warning to the coaches, particularly the foreigners who are being paid much more than their local counterparts.

"Chairman Ramirez has already made a statement that after the SEA Games, the Philippines will concentrate on the Asian Games. We will prioritize sports and concentrate on the Asian Games.

"And many of the sports that we will prioritize will receive training overseas in China, Australia, Cuba and America. And this is a good thing. Rather than bring (foreign) coaches, here we go overseas," Keon added.

Keon said as host, the Philippines should maximize its chance in the SEA Games in the hope of nailing the overall title, which got away when the country last hosted the event in 1991.

Starring swimmer Eric Buhain, who later on became PSC chairman, the Philippines won 91 gold medals 14 years ago and finished behind then overall champion Indonesia by just one gold medal.

"And so the coaches and the officials must really exhort and inspire our athletes because this is perhaps one of the last chances we might have to win the overall championship.

"And why do I say that? Because there’s a move within the SEA Games Federation to create a compulsory list for sports so that host countries may not be able to rely on sports where they are really strong," said Keon.

There’s been a common trend in the SEA Games lately in that the host country winds up as the overall champion. Malaysia did it in 2001 and was followed by Vietnam in 2003.

Vietnam won more than 20 gold medals in events that it introduced two years ago, like fin swimming and shuttlecock. Both sports won’t be played this time since the Philippines are not very familiar with them.

"You won’t be able to stack events in sports where you are strong. That’s what they plan to do in the future. And if that’s the case, then we’ve got to do it now. This is the time," Keon added.