SEA Games teams to get 1 foreign coach each

One foreign coach for every sport that will be represented in the 28th Southeast Asian Games in Singapore.

Olympic chief Jose “Peping” Cojuangco Jr. yesterday said the Philippine Sports Commission has already agreed to this proposal designed to strengthen the country’s performance in the coming Games.

“We’re not looking down on our local coaches, but I believe we can pick up new ideas and programs that we haven’t encountered before,” said the Philippine Olympic Committee president.

There are 402 gold medals at stake in 36 sports in the June 5 to 16 meet with the Philippines submitting a list of 650 athletes and over 300 officials from 34 sports for accreditation.

Cojuangco said the PSC agency will shoulder the expenses of foreign coaches to be hired by the Olympic body for three months at the most.

“Hiring foreign coaches will complement the entire program that we will have in preparation for the SEA Games and I want it fully implemented,” added the two-time Tarlac representative and uncle of President Aquino.

The PSC usually sets aside a maximum budget of $2,000 a month for a foreign coach but there’s been a clamor to increase the salary base on the national sports associations to tap the best coaches available.

Aside from getting coaches outside of the local pool, the POC is planning to house 150-200 athletes at Philsports in Pasig City and Baguio City for six months complete with high-level training and conditioning along with proper diet and nutrition.

The country finished a record low seventh-place overall in the 11-nation Games held last year in Burma (Myanmar).