The Hindu : Sport / Olympic Games : An American hand in Iraq's gold mission

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Sunday, Aug 08, 2004

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Sport - Olympic Games

An American hand in Iraq's gold mission

By Pete Alfano

ATHENS, AUG. 7. Maurice `Termite' Watkins went to Iraq on April 1, 2003, to help eliminate the insects that were bugging the U.S. military.

His family owned a pest control business, which explains his nickname.

Friends had told him about the infestation at military bases and other sites in Iraq, and although he confessed to some trepidation, he viewed the trip as a way to serve his country.

``I truly thought it was God's will, and I told my wife, Sharla, I could hear the call,'' Watkins said. ``She said, `I don't hear it.' ''

Nonetheless, Watkins went off to vanquish scorpions, spiders and flies.

Little did he know that he would return to his home near Houston with a flyweight and a ticket to the Olympic Games that begin from August 13 in Athens, Greece.

Watkins, a licensed pest control contractor who also has sold cars for the past six years, also happens to be a former professional boxer — and a pretty good one at that.

As a light welterweight, he won 59 of his 67 bouts in a career that began in 1974 and spanned 16 years.

When he turned pro, he gave up an opportunity to qualify for the 1976 U.S. Olympic boxing team that competed in Montreal and included future champions Sugar Ray Leonard and Leon and Michael Spinks.

A second chance

Now, approaching his 48th birthday on August 29, he's getting a second chance as the trainer for Najah Ali, a 24-year-old Iraqi with a degree in computer science and a proficiency in the ``sweet science,'' as boxing is known.

While in Iraq last fall, Watkins was approached by Mike Gfoeller, a regional director of the Coalition Provisional Authority, who had heard about the pest control specialist who fought more than insects.

Gfoeller asked Watkins what he thought the odds were of reviving the Iraqi national boxing programme on short notice and qualifying at least one boxer for the Olympics.

``I told him a million to one,'' Watkins said.

``He said, `One is all we need. I expect you to get this done.'''

Mission accomplished. Watkins and Ali left on Thursday on their Olympic odyssey.

Ali emerged as the best of 24 Iraqis who tried out for the team. He certainly has the pedigree: His father is a former Arab boxing champion who taught his son how to fight. Even though Ali pursued a college degree in Baghdad, he dreamed of representing his country one day in the Olympics.

That dream had all but died in the tumult of post-war Iraq.

Not worried by risk

Watkins was undaunted by the risk to his own well-being, the random violence caused by insurgents and the lack of adequate facilities and equipment for the boxers. He summoned the 24 hopefuls to the city of Hillah in November to begin a training camp.

He chose a soccer field because there were no suitable gyms. There were also no headgear, mouthpieces or groin protectors. The boxing gloves were small and tattered.

``They started boxing, and their noses and mouths were bleeding,'' Watkins said. ``I stopped it, and said, `This is insane.' I was told, `But this is the way we always do it, sir.' ''

Iraq had four boxers on its Olympic team in the 2000 Summer Games in Sydney. But being an Olympian in Iraq was a mixed blessing during the reign of Saddam Hussein.

Athletes lived in fear of failure; they were terrorised, and many claimed that they were physically abused by Hussein's son Odai, who was in charge of the Olympic movement. Odai is gone, killed by American soldiers, but Watkins sensed that the fear lingered.

His first task was to change the mood, replacing fear with fun. He coined the phrase ``Iraq is back,'' which the boxers chanted daily. He made an effort to earn their trust and respect. He wanted to fit in.

``The first two weeks was more bonding than anything,'' he said. ``When everyone got off the bus the first day, I greeted each of them with a kiss on both cheeks and then another on the first cheek. That's their custom and it shocked them. I sat on the floor cross-legged and ate their food with them.

``I became part of their culture.''

The provisional authority provided funding from money seized from Saddam.

Ali keeps his word

One boxer caught Watkins' attention. Ali, who speaks English, approached him early during training and told him, ``I will be the one who goes to the Olympics.''

And he has backed up his words. Ali displayed the most skill, threw the most punches, had the best attitude and followed advice well, Watkins said.

Ali and Watkins travelled to qualifying tournaments in the Philippines, in China and Pakistan, where Ali fought his way to an Olympic wild card berth.

Just as important, Watkins said, Ali has been a goodwill ambassador, extolling the United States to his countrymen. ``We did an interview on Iraqi TV and he said, `Americans are good, freedom is good, and they're treating me good.' ''

Ali lived with Watkins in the Houston suburb of Deer Park after arriving in the United States to continue his training. They've been to Chicago, Atlanta and Colorado Springs, where Ali spent time with the U.S. Olympic boxing team.

``They are my friends,'' Ali said. ``They work with me and wish good luck for me and push me forward.''

Ali has hopes of remaining in the United States and pursuing a master's degree at the University of Houston. A lot of red tape remains.

His parents, two brothers and three sisters live in Baghdad. He calls them regularly. He worries about their safety.

``But all of them tell me to focus on my training,'' Ali said. ``They tell me not to think about anything else.''

What are his chances of winning an Olympic medal? ``I am going to win the gold,'' Ali said with a typical fighter's bravado. ``I am working very hard.''

Watkins said that Ali, a light flyweight (106 pounds), competed well in sparring sessions against American Ron Siler, a flyweight and medal contender.

``My opinion is that if you catch Najah on a good night and you get good judges, he can win.''

In a sense, Ali has already won. ``The day we see the Iraqi flag raised (at the Olympics) will be the most emotional day in my life and for Najah,'' Watkins said. — New York Times News Service

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