Instead of engaging Eumir Marcial in a word war as has been on-going – the Philippine Sports Commission and the Alliance of Boxing Associations of the Philippines should employ a parental approach to the seemingly ratty attitude of the former.
Very recently, Marcial has created quite a stir in the media after accusing the PSC and the ABAP of “negligence” during his training stint in the US last year.
Touted by sports observers as having the best chances of snatching the very elusive first Olympic gold medal for the country, the two-time SEAG gold medalist complained bitterly that the PSC and the ABAP neglected to look after his financial lack while preparing for his first professional fight in the US.
Without quoting the boxer verbatim, Marcial said in so many words that the P43,000 monthly allowance he gets from the government sports agency was not enough to tidy him up in a country where one spends dollars instead of pesos.
The media picked up Marcial’s blasts and soon enough, a media word war ensued.
The PSC and the ABAP both chose to explain their positions in a media forum where they separately blamed Marcial for reneging on his training regimen.
The PSC lamented that it has never ceased granting the boxer’s stipend even during the viral pandemic period although the lockdowns made it difficult for everybody to adinistratively operate as efficiently as possible.
For its part, the ABAP deplored the whereabouts of Marcial who was supposed to joining the training team in Thailand but was located to be in his hometown in Zamboanga City.
The crux of the problem actually is about the “inadequate” allowances Marcial is presently getting both from the PSC and the ABAP.
“Magkasya ba ang P43,000 sa training for the Olympics?”, Marcial asked, in broad reference to the financial assistance he was receiving.
This is not the first time something like this happened in the sports community when athletes are busy preparing for a big international competition.
For me, this is just a simple communications snafu.
There is no better way to solve it – as the Summer Olympics are just two months away – than to fetch Marcial pronto from his Zamboanga hideout and like dutiful parents, cuddle and fly him back to home base in Manila for a “reunion” of sorts.
Marcial is just as solvable a problem as Maria’s “Sound of Music” character.
PSC and ABAP people should stop thinking inside a box.
I agree with Marcial that P43,000 cannot get you anywhere in these critical times of the CoVid 19 era.
Marcial and the rest of the Tokyo qualifiers should be morally and psychologially built-up, their confidence doubly boosted like an engine of a Ferrari waiting to enter a once-in-a-lifetime- race.
Alas, as in previous quadrennial tournaments when failure stares them in the face, sports officials will again resort to finger-pointing and the play the blame game. (Email your feedback to fredlumba@yahoo.com.) GOD BLESS THE PHILIPPINES!
