The Philippine Rowing team’s foreign coach, Shukhrat Ganiev, is set to make his official comeback this month.
The Uzbek coach’s services have been tapped once again to prepare the squad for the upcoming Asia Oceania Continental Qualification Regatta which will serve as an Olympic qualifier.
The 60-year-old rowing tactician made a name after guiding the national rowing team to win three golds and one bronze medal in the last Southeast Asian Games.
Ganiev went back to Uzbekistan last year and when his return was confirmed, Olympic hopeful Cris Nievarez admitted that the rowing team’s hopes got boosted that they will sail into an Olympic slot.
“May iniwan po siyang training program bago umalis, pero iba pa rin pag nandiyan siya. ‘Yung parang makikita niya sa mata mo kung ano ‘yung kulang sa iyo, mga ganoon [He left behind a training program before he went away, but it is not the same without him. It’s like he sees in your eyes what is missing in you, something like that],” Nievarez explained.
But their mentor’s absence since October last year was not an excuse for him to stop guiding the national rowers.
“’Yung mindset naming hinahanda talaga niya sa mas mataas na kompetisyon dati pa, kaso nahinto. Pero sa contact niya sa mga coaches, kinakamusta niya kami, sinasabihan ng kailangan gawin [He really prepared our mindset for higher competition even way back, but it stopped. He has been contacting our coaches, asking about us and telling them what to do],” Nievarez said.
Ganiev is set to arrive in the Philippines this April. He will be flying with the national team to Tokyo on May 1 for the Olympic qualifier from May 5 to 7. – Report by Khay Asuncion/ JBB-jlo
