Dave Croft writes:



On a personal note in all correspondance with Eric and Alex Boogers I have found them to be most reasonable. And that correspondance hasnt always been plain sailing as there was controversy over the (in Erics opinion) Ilonka/Jones decision. But throughout it all and subsequently it was good doing business with them. Can I suggest you have a drinking contest? and dont fall out.

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Yes, the wpkl is a fundamentally corrupt organization,
and they are morally responsible for their craven decision.

But, I also cannot not forget that the wpkl was pressured,
and urged to take this corrupt, dishonest, immoral, and
totally unreasonable action by Soumia's manager, Alex Boogers.
And he ( and sadly Eric also)has subsequently approved their action by defending it.

So, the sad fact is, The wpkl did not act alone, or in a vacuum.
and thats the elephant in the living room that nobody wants to look at it.
And I understand why-its too embarrassing; and it naturally leaves us feeling very uncomfortableto see such ugliness in the actions of people we so want to be able to respect, and work with.

Dave, It would take more time than i have, to write about all the acts of kindness and generosity that Eric has bestowed on me personally and also to our website.

Through the years, he has given me free software and fight dvds; he has helped me with computer problems; he has provided me and my website with a wealth of information on Ilonka Elmont and other Dutch fighters;
and he has been a great source of encouragement for many years now.
In fact, He is one of only two persons I have ever trusted with the password to edit our website.

So how do you express gratitude for all that?
By vehemently opposing, and contradicting him on something that is apparently very important to him?

To have such an unpleasant argument with him on a public forum over something that apparently is deeply important to him for whatever reasons, makes me feel like just giving thewhole thing up, (advancing female Muay Thai and kickboxing) and moving on to other things I would like to accomplish in life.

If hurting friends is what it takes to uphold integrity in our sport,
then maybe its time for me to go.

But whats saddest for me personally me is that someone who has been one
of our (womenkickboxing.com's earliest and most generous and helpful supporters
is now energetically defending Mr Boogers' decision to pressure the wpkl into taking a corrupt
and reprehensible action. Defending something wrong that one's friend does,
is not the same as actually doing it, but it still bothers me.

I have been hoping that through enough pressure that Eric would finally produce
the evidence of jury corruption that he says Alex Boogers has "on tape" so that i could say
" I am sorry; I was wrong" and end the matter.

But, as you have seen he has not, and regretably it is now apparent
there is no such evidence-the protest was founded on lies
and deception. What other conclusions can anyone draw?

I now understand how Rachel feels: torn by irreconcilable loyalties
and pondering retirement-although her issues, to my knowledge,
don't directly involve matters of honesty and integrity.

Suffice it to say, I am personally gutted by this.

I may yet write one final article on this sad situation, and post it on my site for posterity and possibly pass the site onto a suitable custodian who is dedicted to the sport of female KB and MT.

And if the issue is ever raised again, I'll submit the link, but discuss it no further as axers have become weary of this topic, and i have made my case.

Dave Jackson once told me i take things waay too seriously-and he's no doubt correct.

But, losing friends over someone else's wrong actions is bitter pill to swallow. This maybe the one time i am actually not taking something too seriously.

In retrospect, I probably should have kept my mouth shut, averted my gaze,and just breathed through my mouth, and the stench would have eventually passed
on and forgotten, and business would continue as usual.

Thanks for affirming that the wpkl decision was fundamentally
unprincipled, and corrupt.

dan