Balls to the Wall: Twinkle, Twinkle Little Stars
Twinkle, twinkle, little stars,
We don’t wonder who you are!
All around the courts you fly,
Like real diamonds in the sky.
The Eastern Province Squash world was rocked with the news of the devastating bus accident which involved the Under 14 players, managers and parents on their return from their inter-provincial tournament in Johannesburg. That it happened is unacceptable. That lives were not lost, is truly a miracle.
But tragic events and tough times do bring people together. It has been truly amazing to see how the Squash Community has rallied around Cara Teengs, Kuhle Gontshi and Costas Giagas. All are thankfully on the road to recovery but it will be a slow and painful journey. How long the trauma will remain in the young minds of these players, will linger longer, and will need to be managed.
Modes of transport, times of travel and the costs of these tournaments will need to be re-visited
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Accident aside, Junior Squash players in the province returned from their various inter-provincials beaming with pride, and bedecked with medals.
IPT RESULTSTEAM / FINAL POSITION / TOP 10
U-13 Boys A / 1 of 9 / Dean Venter won all his matches. No rankings given in this age group
U-13 Girls A / 6 of 7
U-14 Girls A / 7 of 11 / Zinathi Mbenyana (10)
U-14 Boys A / 8 of 9
U-16 Girls A / 2 / Kaylyn Trevarthen ( 2); Danell Douglas ( 8)
U-16 Girls B / 1
U-16 Boys A / 2 / Murray Schepers (4), Keanu Langford ( 8), Juandre Venter ( 9)
U-16 Boys B / 1
U-19 Girls A / 4 / Hayley Ward; (5) Hannah Knott-Craig (10)
U-19 Girls B / 6
U-19 Boys A / 3 / Dewald van Niekerk.(1)
U-19 Boys B / 3
The spontaneous vibe and ethos of playing, playing and playing some more amongst these juniors is special. At this level, time spent on court translates into results and recognition.
But what happens after school? Why, if the province is competitive at Schools level, can we not reach the same levels at senior level?
The EP Ladies box above their weight, but from a men’s perspective, we are, at best a fighting B Section province.Understandably, we lose players to the bigger centres, and we must be proud to act as feeders and watch as Elani and Lume Landman, Kacey Leigh Dodd, and next year, Dewald van Niekerk grow into national stars. And the likes of Greg La Mude, Rudi van Niekerk and Kyle Schwarz, and on the ladies side, Lizelle Goosen, Jacqui Ryder and Anlen Murray, who have all featured in the national rankings, with due respect, are not getting any younger.
“Why are they not being challenged?” Why are the young guns, who promise so much at junior level, not coming through and usurping their positions?
Do we need Academies to guide and nurture this talent? I disagree. Firstly, there are not enough bucks. Secondly, The Buck stops at the Individual. Champions make themselves, they are not made. Those extra inches of training, planning, practising and playing need to come from within.
“Are our players, working hard enough to achieve the levels of squash of which they are capable? I don’t think so. Up and until Under 16 level, via the Play-More strategy, it is relatively easy to be ranked in the country. From there on, it becomes tougher. The chasm between schools and senior provincial is massive. Just playing is not enough. Guidance and mentoring is also necessary
The World No 1 junior, Diego Elias hails from Peru. Hardly a recognized squash playing country. It can be done.
Some more questions to our up-and-coming players?
Are you exposing yourselves to tougher competition and playing in all the local tournaments set up during the season?
How often do you practise and train on your own?
Know, that in order to sustain and better those rankings, to climb the ladder and challenge the experienced players, you will need to:
1. Analyse yourself as a player, identifying your strengths and weaknesses. Ideally find a coach or better player to assist you. Rate yourself on your Skills, Fitness, Movement, Tactics and The Mind. Sit down now and plan your year ahead. Set some goals and ideas of how you can achieve them.
2. To play 1st League. To be ranked at under 19 level, you need to be playing 1st League in Port Elizabeth. Bottom line
3. Find a better player or coach to be your sparring partner, to work with you, massage your weak areas, and develop your strengths
4. Actively go out and seek matches against higher ranked, more experienced players.
5. Spend time on court, on your own, practising with purpose
I have some dreams….
Just imagine if we could…
Set up a Mentoring Programme where experienced players, adopt a club member or Junior player, and play on a regular basis with that player
Get our clubs in the province to look within, see The Bigger Picture and try to grow their players. There are some very talented ones hovering in the middle leagues. Sometimes they need a helping hand and be leap-frogged into higher leagues. Out of their comfort zones, and just out of their depth.
Make NMMU a force to be reckoned with in terms of talent… and numbers. The university has done a wonderful job in attracting and keeping players in the province. Their League and Inter-varsity results stand testimony but there is still so much to do. We need to grow the club and its depth. Winning leagues does not grow depth. Throwing people out of their comfort zones does. Having potential 1st League players playing in 4th league is a sin. Having potential provincial players playing in the 2nd league is equally as heinous. Without doubt, boredom and mediocrity will creep in. There must also be a gold mine of “retired” former schools cricket/rugby/hockey stars itching to find a sport like squash, to enrich their sporting lives.
Let me now lie down. Perchance, to sleep, but if not, to watch those twinkling stars, twinkle even brighter