DAGMIL: Without a coach… I was forced to train by myself.
MANILA, Philippines — Ever since he became an elite athlete, long jumper Henry Dagmil hardly sees athletics coach Joseph Sy during training.
The three-time Southeast Asian Games gold medalist Tuesday accused Sy of neglecting his duties as jump coach of the national track and field team.
“Without a coach to regularly monitor the things that I do in training, I was forced to train by myself in big competitions like the SEA Games,” said Dagmil, a 2008 Beijing Olympian, in Filipino.
“It has been that way after I failed to medal in the Olympics.” Sy is under fire along with fellow coach Roselyn Hamero for allegedly missing the training of their athletes in Baguio City.
Their allowances as coaches have been stopped by the Philippine Sports Commission.
Dagmil also accused Sy of keeping the ATMs of athletes and coaches to guarantee payment in his lending business.
“My debt reached as high as P200,000 before I paid it in full in 2012,” said the 32-year-old Dagmil.
“If you don’t abide by his rules, he will threaten you with expulsion from the team.”
Sports commissioner Jolly Gomez said coaches taking the ATMs of the athletes have no business with the government sports-funding agency.
“I don’t feel guilty, they are the ones who approach me,” said Sy. “I’m just helping them.”
Asked about his alleged absences during training, Sy said the PSC is already investigating the case and he hopes to be cleared of the charges.