By Sasha Pei-Silovo – EM TV Online
Preparations for Fiji’s national squash team’s participation in the 2015 Pacific Games is well underway, with an added boost to the team from Australian squash professional, Marc Foster.
Foster, a highly acclaimed coach, and internationally accredited to coach coaches, was in Fiji from the 7th to the 16th of December, to support and enhance the team’s preparations.
He ran a series of squash coaching clinics in Suva, Lautoka and Savusavu, coaching local coaches, guiding and training them on how to coach squash players at junior, senior and national levels.
The clinics were held to support the local coaches and players’ endeavours in the lead-up to the Pacific Games in Port Moresby. Foster also provided coaching on skill and fitness techniques, to both the juniors and national team members.
Ravi Singh, president of Squash Fiji, in an interview with Fiji Times said that national representatives, Andrew McGoon and Filimoni Lesuma, responsible for the national team’s preparations to the Games, were part of the program run by Foster.
He revealed that there was a growing interest in the sport, and the turnout at the clinics was overwhelming.
“This was a real opportunity to lay the foundation for developing the sport further. In the long run, this will have the effect of lifting the level of squash in Fiji,” Singh added.
Last month, recently appointed national coach, Isimeli Cerelala said that there was a lot of work to be done for the Pacific Games.
“We still have a lot of work to do for the Pacific Games. We need to play more overseas opponents. The players need to improve on their court work, their skills and fitness. The squad has only been together for a couple of weeks.
“We have seven in the men’s squad and nine in the women’s squad. At the end of December the number will be cut down to five so we can concentrate more on training,” said Cerelala.
The coaching clinics by Marc Foster were hailed as a huge successand participants are adamant that with the knowledge and skills gained through the sessions, local coaches and players are now better equipped to strategically plan and implement their training programs, and other key areas, in preparation for the 2015 Pacific Games.
