Albania: ABAP sanction 'unfair'

MANILA, Philippines –  Top lady boxer Annie Albania yesterday said she’s accepting the decision of the Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines (ABAP) dropping her from the national team and would spend her “breather” from the sport resting her tired body and starting a business of her own.

Breaking her silence since the ABAP meted out the sanction for her failure to return to camp, Albania admitted to having failed to formally notify ABAP officials and coaches of her planned “hibernation” but found it unfair to be practically tagged as an “undisciplined” athlete.

“Kung iyon (expulsion) ang desisyon nila, wala na akong magagawa. Tanggap ko rin naman na may nagawa rin ako, hindi ako nakapag-paalam nang maayos (I will not dispute their decision since I myself accept the fact that I had made a mistake by not telling them of my plans),” Albania told The STAR in a phone interview from Bacolod City yesterday.

Albania related that after copping a silver medal in the last Asian Games, she had intimated her plan to take a respite from boxing – although directly to the media instead of her coaches and ABAP officials.

“(Pero) Alam naman nila (ABAP) ang plano ko na hindi na ako lalaro, magpapahinga na ako dahil may nararamdaman na rin ako sa katawan ko. Kaso hindi lang ako nakapagpaalam noon dahil nag-dadalawang isip ako kung lalaro pa ako. (ABAP execs knew that I plan to retire since I’m already tired and nursing injuries. But I hesitated to tell them since I knew they would convince me to continue boxing),” said the pride of South Cotabato, a national team mainstay for the last 10 years.

The 28-year-old Albania has been hampered by a lower back injury since the 2009 Southeast Asian Games and she also started to feel a strain in her left eye, an aftermath of sparring with men while preparing for the Asiad last year.

Albania said she’s hurt by insinuations that she lacked discipline. “Kung wala akong disiplina at hindi sumusunod sa training, hindi ko naman siguro makakamit yung nakamit ko (If I were undisciplined, I wouldn’t have achieved anything),” said Albania, whose biggest accomplishment was a runner-up finish in the 2008 Women’s World Championships.

She has already talked to ABAP executive director Ed Picson via phone Wednesday night and was told of the association’s decision in the wake of her continued absence from training.

“May naipon din naman ako from Asian Games and SEA Games incentives, gagamitin ko yon para magtayo ng negosyo (I’ll use my savings from incentives to start a business),” she said.

But then again, Albania is not totally closing her doors on boxing. At least for now. “Titingnan ko kung kakayanin pa ng katawan ko. Hindi pa ako makapag-isip talaga ngayon. Gusto ko lang magpahinga (We’ll see how my injuries heal and my body respond. I can’t make a hasty decision right now. All I want is to rest),” she said.

“She didn’t even bother to call us and we didn’t know where she was,” said coach Boy Velasco. “Sayang talaga since she worked hard for eight years to become a champion.”