Change style, Asafa, not coach

ASAFA POWELL believes in, and lives by, the saying "don't burn your bridges", and for that he must be commended.

Over the last few days, Powell's parents - Cislyn and Reverend William Powell - have publicly stated their son should part company with world-renowned track and field sprint coach Stephen Francis.

"Change the coach. Try somebody else," said Rev Powell, who seemed to be expressing his disappointment after Asafa's failure to win individual gold at his second Olympic Games. "He should have changed the coach long time. If it was me, I would have changed the coach a long time ago."

Not the coach

The reverend believed there is something shutting off his son when it comes to major championships and it was behind this that Cislyn thinks the coach should figure it out.

"As a coach, he (Francis) should be able to identify the problem," Cislyn said.

However, despite their public utterances, Asafa said he will not turn his back on Francis and the MVP team, which has done a lot for him, and I totally agree with him.

I agree because he was made what he is today by Francis.

"My mother loves me very much and she has the right to say whatever she wants to say. But that's an issue I have to deal with, with her ... there is not going to be any change of coach," said Asafa, who said coach Francis "is not liked by a lot of people".

Must take responsibility

Yes, I agree with Asafa's parents that he has failed to deliver on the big occasion but, according to information coming out of the MVP camp, it's not totally the fault of coach Francis.

Asafa, is it said, is 'lazy' and too often fails to carry out workouts as directed by coach Francis.

Now, if this is the case, Francis cannot be the only one to be blamed, as Asafa himself must take some responsibility for his actions.

Asked if there is any truth to him not doing his prescribed workouts, Asafa, upon his arrival at the Norman Manley International on Monday, replied: "I need to do all my workouts".

Having failed to do his leg presses in the gym, the experts believe this contributed to Asafa's weak knees.

It is said that Asafa always weakens after 80-90 metres, especially against top-class competition. This was obvious in his defeat at last year's World Championships and the Beijing Olympics.

It is recommended that Asafa start to run some 200m, as most the great sprinters, Usain Bolt, Carl Lewis, Justin Gatlin and Maurice Greene, among others, have doubled up.

Running the 200m could be what the doctor orders for Asafa, if he wants to compete against Bolt seriously.

But, again to back up my point that coach Francis is not to be blamed, even though Reverend Powell used an analogy that if you are working with someone and the person is not talking to you properly, that could be another reason for failure.

Failing to deliver

Having said that, isn't Francis the coach of Shelly-Ann Fraser, who said Asafa is her mentor, as well as Melaine Walker, Sherone Simpson and Shericka Williams, all of whom exceeded expectations in Beijing?

Isn't he the coach of Great Britain's Germaine Mason, who won the silver in the men's high jump, and Nesta Carter and Michael Frater, who have now broken into the big league?

So, if all these persons did well under Francis, why is Asafa still failing to delivery on the big stage?

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