AS a coach, Emerson Obiena is confident his son EJ has what it takes to display a performance that Filipino sports fans will be very proud of.
As a father, though, the elder Obiena admitted he is getting more nervous especially with the Olympics fast approaching.
“’Yung kaba pong ‘yan, hindi po mawawala ‘yan,” said Obiena, a former pole vaulter of the Philippine national team himself. “Pero siyempre, kung kabado ka at father ka, at the same time, coach ka, dapat hindi mo rin dapat ipakita sa atleta mo.”
EJ Obiena’s performances in the buildup to the Olympics have been encouraging. Obiena recently set a new Philippine record when he registered 5.85 meters in the Jump and Fly meet in Germany.
Obiena is now one of the country's medal hopes in the Olympics, and Emerson Obiena is hoping EJ get even more consistent with his jumps.
Emerson Obiena will join his son in the Tokyo Olympics to also help EJ’s coach Vitaly Petrov during the actual competition.
They're known well as coach-and-athlete, but the elder Obiena stresses they're father-and-son first, and that he enjoys much more.
“Minsan mas maganda po pag-usapan ‘yung wala sa pole vault,” said Obiena with a smile. “Mas nag-eenjoy ako ‘yung pinag-uusapan namin ‘yung nasa labas ng pole vault. Nag-eenjoy ko naman ‘yung time na ‘yun, ‘yung mga experience niya na nandoon siya, ‘yung relationship niya with his girlfriend, ‘yun ‘yung mga medyo light moment.”
As a coach, Obiena noted the importance of exuding confidence, despite the anxiousness during the competition.
“Kahit hindi ko anak, kahit hindi si EJ, kapag nagtuturo ako at may laro, kinakabahan ako. Baka mas kabado pa ako sa atleta ko. Pero I see to it na hindi niya makita ‘yun. Ang makikita niya dapat, confident ang coach niya. Minsan nalilipat sa bata ‘yun. Kapag nakikita ng bata na takot ‘yung coach niya o may inaalala, magkakaroon ng doubt lalo kung nasa competition siya,” said Obiena.
Obiena said he is also gaining strength from the support of the Filipino people for his son’s campaign in the Olympics.
“Yes, kinakabahan ako as a coach and at the same time, I’m hoping na ‘yung lahat ng pinaghirapan niya, makamit niya. It’s about time naman na. Dami na niyang sacrifice na naibigay. Sa akin, I’m hoping. Yes, I’m nervous but I’m hoping for the best. Gusto ko ipakita sa kanya na confident ako sa kakayahan niya.”
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