The South Korean team training at
the Velodrome in London's Olympic
park. Brunei has potential to
bring home medals in velodrome
events according to cycling
national coach Yafiz Jamaludin.
Picture: EPA
National cycling coach Yafiz Jamaludin has shown he can secure podium finishes in the velodrome track racing.
Within the last two months he has sent his riders to the Southeast Asian Grand Prix 2013 in Malaysia and the Kuala Lumpur Open Track Cycling Championships.
Whilst at the Asian Grand Prix his team secured a bronze in the first leg of the team sprint and silver in the second leg of the team sprint.
During their tour to Kuala Lumpur I'maadi Abd Aziz picked up silver in the Elite Men category 15km scratch race.
These are impressive results coming from a coach who doesn't have the correct facilities to train his athletes.
Yafiz's riders only form of training at this moment is on the road to help them increase their stamina and speed.
Though this isn't enough for the athletes as velodrome racing also has a technical side to it, which can be taught verbally but not put into practice.
Yafiz told The Brunei Times, "If we had the facilities to train, I'm sure that we will be able to feature not only in regional events but as well the Asian Games or the Asian Cycling Championship."
"I think why not build one because it will make it easier for me to develop velodrome as I am a specialist and expert in this event.
"We borrow the bicycles from the organiser's to race but since I have already shown that we can get the results, I hope we can get them for the national team.
"I hope that the Brunei Darussalam Cycling Federation will work to try and get all the facilities needed because we have the potential to improve.
"Track race is a powerful event and it's easy to win medals because there are many events in it, so we can choose one where we really perform.
"I'maadi has gone up against a rider from Uzbekistan who joined a world class race and managed to beat him," said Yafiz.
Yafiz looks forward to seeing the facilities come to life as he thinks it will be a good opportunity to develop the sport in Brunei.
"Once we have it, we can organise international level competitions so our local riders can improve their performance," added the coach.
