The national rowing team started training with its new foreign head coach Benedikt Schwarz of Germany in preparation for future international tournaments.

National team coach Ed Maerina told DAILY TRIBUNE that Schwarz arrived last Thursday and hit the ground running as the Filipinos like with his style, technique and European brand of training regimen.

The 37-year-old Schwarz replaced Shukhrat Ganiev of Uzbekistan, who recently retired to spend more time with his family.

“We just trained with him in the water today. He was observing the team and giving them corrections because he is adjusting their style and techniques,” Maerina said, saying that Schwarz drew positive feedbacks from the athletes.

“The feedback from the athletes was positive. He already gave us a strength training plan last month and because of that, I can see that they like the training program.”

With the return of rowing in the 33rd Southeast Asian Games, Schwarz’s inclusion will be a big boost for the Filipino rowers as they are looking to bounce back from a 0-2-6 gold-silver-bronze medal tally in the 31st SEA Games in Vietnam back in 2022.

Maerina said they will have a training camp in Germany and compete in Europe sometime in June to prepare for the biennial meet.

“The plan is to have a training camp in Germany and compete in other countries like Italy and Switzerland by around June or July,” Maerina said.

“The selection will be until March and those selected here will not just go to Germany but would most likely join the SEA Games as well.”