ITINALAGA ng Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association (PATAFA) si George Noel Posadas bilang head coach ng national team.
Si Posadas ay jumps at sprints coach magmula noong 1990 at naprodyus ang marami sa topnotch athletes ng bansa.
“I was shocked. I did not expect to be selected as head coach of the national athletics team,” anang 60-year-old Posadas.
Ang iba pang miyembro ng coaching staff ay sina Dario De Rosas at Sean Guevarra (multi-event), Jeoffrey Chua (sprints at hurdles), Emerson Obiena (pole vault), Joebert Delicano (jumps), Arniel Ferrera (shot put, discus throw at hammer throw), Danilo Fresnido (javelin throw), Isidro Del Prado (middle sprint), John Lozada (middle distance) at Eduardo Buenavista (long distance).
Si Renato Unso, isang hurdles champion, ang training director ng PATAFA.
“We will work together as one team and one goal in line with the vision and mission of PATAFA,” sabi ni Posadas, mister ni long jump queen Elma Muros, isa sa most bemedalled athletes sa kasaysayan ng Southeast Asian Games (SEAG).
Binigyang-diin ni Posadas ang pangangailangan na maging kumpetitibo ang mga atleta sa SEA region at Asia.
“First and foremost, I will upgrade the level of the athletes especially their performances, not only for SEA Games. The target is Asian Games level or medalist,” ani Posadas.
“We need to identify from among the members of the national team and determine who are capable of becoming world class or Olympic caliber but need high-level training and exposure. These athletes should be given full support, if possible, to train abroad with a legitimate world-class coach, world-class training camp and facilities. The training must be not less than one year,” dagdag pa niya.
PNA
