Judo-Cuban Suarez appointed new national team judo coach |01 April 2005

Suarez 48, take up the vacant post, which was last held by Frenchman Pascal Tayot.

Since the departure of Tayot just before the Indian Ocean Islands Games (IOIG) in Mauritius in 2003 André César, Gerard Baker and Francis Labrosse had been helping  with the training of local judokas.
The federation though felt the need for international expertise and has recruited Suarez  who is here on a two-year contract.

Suarez who in his native land worked with the sports science faculty at the Matanzas University said that his main job is to detect young talents by visiting schools and work alongside Physical Education (P.E.) instructors and at the same time coach junior and senior judokas who form part of the national selection.

He added that he hoped to contribute to improve the level of judo here.
"I have been teaching judo for the past 25 years and with the experience gathered over those years, I hope that I will be able to help improve the level of Seychelles judokas. I have noticed that most of the judokas here lack basic techniques, physical fitness and are slow on the mat," said an all-smile Suarez.

Asked how he felt so far after his first month in the job and of his immediate plans, coach Suarez had this to say:
"I am very happy to be in Seychelles, especially to pass on to others what I have learned. The judokas are motivated and hardworking and, so far, this is a very good sign. My immediate plan is to teach the young lads the basic skills and the techniques of the sport. My wish is to bring judo to schools across the country."

C. J.