Boxing: African Olympic qualifier in Algeria-I’m confused - Julie |23 January 2008
Having officially handed in a resignation letter which he has copied to various bodies related
What’s happening with Julie?
Winner of Seychelles’ only African Championship gold medal so far (in 2004 in Botswana in the 64-kg division) earning himself a qualification spot at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Greece, and Seventh IOIG 69-kg gold medallist in 2007, hard puncher Julie tries his best to explain what’s going on with him.
Sports Nation: Why have you decided not to make the trip with the rest of the Seychelles team to Algeria?
Kitson Julie: I myself don’t understand the situation. Why is it that the other boxers got their visa on time when I was told at the last minute to look for my visa to travel to Algeria. This is not right.
Sports Nation: Do you know why you had to look for your own visa when the other boxers got theirs from a third party?
Kitson Julie: I prefer not to make any comments about this until the situation is sorted out.
Sports Nation: Who is responsible to get you and the other boxers visas for overseas travel?
Kitson Julie: All the documents were being handled by the chairman (Kenneth Nalletamby), but my documents were given back to me.
Sports Nation: Did you try to ask why your documents had been returned to you?
Kitson Julie: Yes. I talked to some people outside the Seychelles Amateur Boxing Federation (SABF) and they were ready to help me get my visa. But when I thought everything was going on well, they (the people Kitson talked to) just didn’t press on. It’s an unfortunate decision. I won’t go into details.
Sports Nation: I’ve also learned that you’ve resigned as a boxer. Is it true?
Kitson Julie: Yes, only for the time-being, but no further comments.
Sports Nation: Did you think about it before taking such a decision?
Kitson Julie: To be frank, I don’t understand what’s going on with me. I had some long thoughts before making the decision. As an athlete I have to think of my future.
Sports Nation: Do you think it’s a good decision?
Kitson Julie: Until now, I think it’s a good decision.
Sports Nation: You feel it’s a good choice but you’re in the gym watching the other boxers train. This means you still love boxing…
Kitson Julie: I’m confused. I really don’t understand it sometimes. Like I told you earlier on, it’s difficult to explain what I feel right now.
Sports Nation: Do you think you will one day get back into a ring?
Kitson Julie: I’ve been boxing for the last eight years and I know it’s going to be tough to be away from the ring. But time will heal the wound and I will have to accept the fact of having given up on boxing.
Sports Nation: At 24 years old you have some 10 more good years left in your career as an amateur boxer. Do you think it’s wise to give up when a lot has been invested in you by the Seychelles government and the Seychelles National Olympic Committee?
Kitson Julie: As I am benefiting from an Olympic Solidarity scholarship, I’ve had talks with a member of the Seychelles National Olympic Committee this week and he has tried to convince me not to stop boxing. There is still another African Olympic qualifier in March and if the conditions they (Snoc and NSC) offer me suit me well, I’ll get myself ready to compete.
Sports Nation: This means that you have not totally given up on boxing?
Kitson Julie: Only if the conditions are favorable will I get back in the ring. As a boxer, I have to be well conditioned, especially psychologically, before stepping into a ring. An Olympic qualifier is tough and if all the ingredients aren’t in place, there is no way you are going to succeed. I think it’s true when they say that prevention is better than cure. Also, I cannot compete when I haven’t been training well. I used to train with coach Roland (Raforme) but I was told to switch to training with coach Pacheco (Pedro). I’m not saying he is a bad coach, but his training is so flat, without any rhythm. I don’t think I gain a lot when I train with him. I feel in better shape when I train with coach Roland.
Sports Nation: This is the second time you decide not to compete in an international competition. The first time was in 2005 in Uganda. Do you think it’s OK for an athlete to just walk out on the team at the last minute?
Kitson Julie: I feel that I did not lose anything when I did not participate in the King’s Cup International Boxing Tournament in Kampala, Uganda, in 2005. The other boxers who went there told me that the competition was not of a very good level.
G. G.