Boxing: Cuban primed for national coach role

Pakistan Sports Board hires Matos on two-year contract.

KARACHI: The Pakistan Boxing Federation (PBF) Secretary Akram Khan confirmed that Cuba’s Jorge Luis Frometa Matos will soon be joining the national camp in Islamabad once the interior ministry sends his Non-Objection Certificate (NOC) to the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB).

He revealed that the deal had been struck between Matos and the PSB, while only the documentations needed to be fully processed for the coach to come here.

“Matos will soon join our training camp once the interior ministry issues his NOC to PSB,” Khan told The Express Tribune. “We’ve roped in a talented coach, who has the experience of working with top boxers of Cuba and other countries.”

The national boxers had failed miserably in their attempt to qualify for the London Olympics, which had created a new low for boxing in Pakistan. However, the PBF had quickly moved to secure a top coach in order to aid the boxers to produce better results in the upcoming events, which includes the South Asian Games as well.



Matos has worked with the national teams of Sri Lanka and Serbia, and he has now been given a two-year deal to work the Pakistani pugilists.

“PSB has decided to hire him for two years with his contract worth $2,000 per month. Hopefully he can come here and make a difference. This move will prove beneficial for our boxers and local coaches as well,” he added.

Currently, the PBF’s training camp is underway under the supervision of Majeed Brohi, who has praised the PSB for providing decent facilities. He has also urged the boxers to fully utilise the camp and attain their peak before a major event arrives.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 5^th, 2013.