Gonzalez set to return as Pakistan boxing coach

PBF agrees to appoint Cuban trainer after Roldan’s unavailability.

KARACHI: Cuban coach Julian Gonzalez, who trained Pakistan boxers for five years, will return to prepare the players ahead of the Asian Championship, the last opportunity for the pugilists to qualify for the 2012 London Olympics.

The Pakistan Boxing Federation (PBF) agreed to reappoint Gonzalez instead of extending compatriot Fransico Hernandez Roldan’s contract, which expired last December. Roldan has been assigned to another job by the Cuban sports officials.

Gonzalez served as Pakistan coach from 2003 to 2008, a period where pugilists won several medals at continental and global levels. However, interestingly, the trainer was shown the door by the federation after Pakistan boxers failed to secure even a single berth at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

But the PBF was hopeful that things will change for the better for next year’s Olympics.

“Gonzalez has vast experience and the boxers will improve under him,” PBF secretary Akram Khan told The Express Tribune. “He’ll be joining the team later this month and will prepare boxers for the Asian Championship that takes place next year.

“Apart from the Beijing Olympics, our boxers won many laurels under him and we’re hoping for the best results,” added Khan.

The Asian Championship, where only the finalist will get tickets for London, will start in February next year in Astana. Pakistan lost an opportunity at the World Championship where none of the boxers managed to secure an Olympics berth
last month.

Meanwhile, the PBF secretary said Roldan was the prime choice for the position of Pakistan coach.

“Roldan was our first choice because he has an understanding with the current boxers. But we were left with no choice after being informed about his unavailability,” said Khan. The PBF got the go-ahead for hiring a foreign coach by the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) last month.

17 countries confirmed for international tournament 

Khan also said the federation has received confirmation from 17 countries regarding their participation at the Shaheed Benazir Bhutto International Boxing Tournament to be held next month in Islamabad.

“We’re getting entries from all over the world including the European countries,” said the secretary. “We’re expecting over 50 countries in
the event.”

The tournament, which has been postponed thrice due to different reasons, will be held from December 20, according to the new schedule.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 11^th,  2011.