Boxing course in full swing |02 February 2006

The course, which is being conducted by English coach Alan Sanigar, was officially opened yesterday morning by Snoc president Antonio Gopal at Snoc's head office, Stad  Linite, Roche Caïman. It will end on Saturday February 11.

Present at the opening ceremony were Snoc and National Sports Council (NSC) officials and the 10 participants among whom are past  boxers, those who are still practising the sport and coaches Jerry Legras and Rival Payet who have already followed a level one course in the past.

In his opening speech, SABF president Hervé Anthony said that the last time they organised such a course was in 1997.

Describing boxing as one of the most successful sports in Seychelles in terms of result achieved in international competitions, Mr  Anthony noted that he believes such a course would help bring the sport back to its glory days and he told the participants to gather all the knowledge possible and to implement them with their students in new boxing schools.

Speaking to Sports Nation, Mr Anthony said: "coaches will learn the basics which they will then pass on to their students. More experienced coaches will now not have to split their time with beginners and therefore we expect to see an improvement in the results at the next Indian Ocean Islands Games."

Mr Anthony added that the Champs Amateur Boxing Club is expected to become the first to be registered as a full member of  the SABF during the sport's annual general meeting.

For his Part, Mr Sanigar talked about the importance of a coaching course, saying that "when you improve the knowledge of one coach you are improving the knowledge of one hundred boxers."

A former boxer himself, Mr Sanigar has been a coach for more than 34 years.

"A good coach should have a good knowledge of technical background, fitness training.

This is how you can condition a boxer in terms of strengh and stamina. You must have a wide spectrum of boxing knowledge to become a good coach, that is psychology, sport medicine, physiology along with techniques. You can achieve this by watching boxing.

You need to have the fundamentals of that sport and if you have been a boxer it shouldn't be difficult," he told Sports Nation.

Like Mr Anthony, Snoc president Gopal spoke of the days boxing made Seychelles great.

He noted that the noble art has brought "Seychelles silver and bronze medals at the Commonwealth Games and we now have to work towards getting back to this same level."

Course participant Jonasson Molle, who, at 22 years old, has had to end his career as a boxer because he suffers from epilepsy, said:
"Last year, I suffered from epilepsy while training in Tunisia and I was told by a sports doctor that I won't be able to fight again. Now, I want to become a coach to try and help others achieve what I have been unable to do as a boxer."
 
F. M.