Keon, malaking kawalan sa PSC

Aminado ang Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) na malaking kawalan sina Gin-tong Alay Director Mike Keon, dating sprint queen Lydia De Vega-Mercado at Olympic Games silver medal winner Mansueto "Onyok" Velasco, Jr.

"They are special people because of their talents and expertise in their respective fields," sabi kahapon ni PSC chairman William "Butch" Ramirez sa nasabing dating tatlong consultants. "Puwede naman namin silang ibalik after the first quarter of the year, pero depende sa sitwasyon."

Nagtapos ang mga kon-trata nina Keon, De Vega-Mercado at Velasco noong Disyembre 31 ng 2005.

Ayon kay Ramirez, hindi naman masyadong sensitibo ang naiwang posisyon ni Keon bilang National Training Director.

"There was no exceptional person in helping us. The area of training belongs to the NSAs (National Sports Associations) and the coaches. And what Mike Keon did was purely monitoring," paglilinaw ng PSC head.

Kinuha naman ng sports commission sina De Vega-Mercado at Velasco, ang silver medalist sa 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games, bilang mga liaison officers na tulay ng mga atleta sa PSC.

"Kinuha namin sila Lydia at Onyok to bridge the gap bet-ween the PSC and the ath-letes. Meron kasing mga athletes na nahihiyang lumapit sa PSC, kaya nagsasabi sila kila Lydia at Onyok ng mga gusto nilang ipaabot sa amin," ani Ramirez.

Malinaw na hanggang sa nakaraang 23rd Southeast Asian Games lamang kinuha ng PSC ang serbisyo nina Keon, De Vega-Mercado at Velasco, dagdag ng PSC chief.

Inaasahang babalik si Keon sa Ilocos Norte para sa kan-yang trabaho bilang sports consultant. (R. Cadayona)