Juniors essential for future of Squash

By Vatapuia Maiava 19 September 2016, 12:00AM

With the racquets in the keen hands of the young, Squash Samoa’s Junior Programme is beginning to take steps towards a bright future for the ongoing development of the sport.

After a tough tournament a few weeks ago, the organisers of the junior programme held a prize giving yesterday at the Tuanaimato Squash courts.

According to the programme’s coach, Tuifa’asisina Maraea Slade, there is a lot of development that needs to be done to ensure the future of squash.

“Two weeks ago, we had this Petroleum Products Supplies sponsored squash tournament,” she said,

“We gathered up all the young ones we have been coaching over the last few weeks to participate in the tournament.

“We are here this morning for the prize giving of that tournament and each of the children managed to get a prize. We are glad to say that this is the beginning of a series of developments for the sport.

“We need to develop towards the future; that means we need a new generation of squash players to take the sport onwards after us.”

As a squash veteran, this is Tuifa’asisina’s way of giving back to the sport she loves.

“I have played this sport for over 30 years now and I just want to find ways to give back to it,” she said.

“So I have been assisting and coaching the young ones to build their skills for the future. We are lucky that a dozen of them have participated in the tournament.”

Although the tournament went without a hitch, Tuifa’asisina says that there is still a lot of room for improvement.

 “We would do so much better if we had someone to actually help sponsor our junior programme. Right now we are actually doing everything voluntarily.

“The parents offer a bit of petrol money but Lui, who is the Assistant Coach, and I are doing most of it. We continue to work on the juniors because we believe that this is essential. The kids are very keen to move further with the sport.”

Tuifa’asisina said she would like to hear from anyone who would be interested in sponsoring the programme.

“If there is anyone out there who would like to help our programme, it would be great for the sport.”

By Vatapuia Maiava 19 September 2016, 12:00AM
Samoa Observer

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