Manswell doomed says Potts

BOXING matchmaker Buxo Potts has painted a gloomy picture of Trinidad amd Tobago’s chances of winning a medal in the disclipine  at the Olympic Games in Athens, Greece later this year. Potts said yesterday that despite his great potential, Tobago-born Kertson Manswell will be seriously hampered if he does not get urgent “technical” assistance. And he is suggesting that veteran trainer Bertram Legall be drafted into the team currently preparing Manswell for Athens. Potts said he will shortly write to Roger Boynes, Minister of Sport and Youth Affairs outlining the merits of getting Legall on board to help Manswell launch a credible assault for an Olympic medal.

“Government is spending a lot of good money behind Manswell. He deserves it but they have the moral obligation to see that he gets qualified people behind him to ensure that he is in the best shape for the Olympic Games,” said Potts. He said Cuban coach Vicente Martinez, who is the guiding force behind Manswell is a good physical trainer but not a competent technical coach. “If you look at Manswell in action very closely you will see major flaws in his defence as he gets hit too frequently and in attack he punches with his elbows,” said Potts, a former jockey. He said these problems are technical in nature and could be easily corrected by a qualified coach with the stature of Legall, a former Port Authority accountant who has pursued coaching courses overseas. Legall was also instrumental in training former World Boxing Association (WBA) champion Claude Noel, another Tobagonian who was the first from this country to capture a world title. Another boxer to benefit from his wide experience and coaching skills was Barbadian Tyrone Downes who was once highly rated among the Commonwealth lightweight boxers.

Potts also launched a broadside against local boxing coaches in general saying the majority are “a bunch of mocking pretenders who trade in deceit.” He said he will also be informing Minister Boynes of the need to reclassify the nation’s boxing coaches and to treat with urgency a programme of retraining and upgrading. “This is the only way we can get the sport back on a sound footing. By properly training the coaches and keeping them on a consistently high standard can we see the sport develop,” said Potts. He said he will also request Government to make good their promise of equipping the Hasely Crawford Stadium at Mucurapo with a modern boxing gym. “The latest equipment and training facilities must go hand in hand with the upgrading of the coaches who will be able to fully expound and put their techniques into action with the young fighters,” Potts said. Potts announced he will soon apply for permission to open a gym in Malabar which will be manned by a qualified technical coach who will be mandated to deliver national and international champions. “This year we must commit to moving boxing forward and we must start somewhere. We have to pull ourselves together and do what is best for the sport. We must shed all pretence and deceit and be honest with ourselves,” said Potts.