Monsour asks warring NSAs, athletes to unite for SEAG

The crack dividing the national swimming program may be on its way to being sealed, but with other national sports associations still wracked by internal conflict, Southeast Asian Games chef de mission Monsour Del Rosario has one appeal.

Unite to ensure that the Philippines gets a decent shot at the overall championship in the Southeast Asian Games in Manila next year.

The two factions dividing swimming have smoked the peace pipe, ensuring a wider talent pool to pick from for international competitions like the SEA Games, but trouble is brewing in the NSAs of karatedo and jiujitsu. Only a unified stand in the country’s SEA Games hosting, Del Rosario said, would give the Philippines a chance of matching the 2005 feat in the 11-nation conclave.

“I’m calling all the athletes and those (sports officials) who are in conflict to stop fighting,” said Del Rosario.

That’s what the Philippine Swimming Inc. and the Philippine Swimming League have done, pledging to work together to bring their sport to greater heights.