The cream of South Africa’s Under 13, under 14 and under 16 boys and girls have, and will be enjoying the training, skills and activities at the National Academies co-ordinated by Liz Mackenzie of TUKS Squash in Pretoria.
Under 13 academy
From 22 – 25 September 20 girls and 12 boys under 13 were put through their paces: nutrition, training, refereeing, movement and particularly technique were on the menu.
Liz and her team which included Graham Prior, Alan Colburn, Sally White, Alex Verhage, Renier Cronje, Wesley Daniels and Maxine Gouweloos ensured that the enthusiastic group of youngsters were kept occupied all day.
Despite the fact that junior players do not seem to like to practise skills, for 90 minutes I watched 12 girls practise T drills and forehands without showing one minute of boredom or tiredness!
The players involved: Border: Katherine Gaylard, Megan Patrick, Kelly Emslie; Central Gauteng: Kyla Hartzenburg, Tayla Rohanna, Deodivina Ndlovu; Mpumulanga: Ayanda Ntimane; Easterns: Emma Shannon, Rachel Shannon, Jordan Wilkinson; Eastern province: Erin Powers; Free State: Cara Katzke, Carla du Plessis Viljoen, Lukas Meyer, Wolfie Hamm, Petrus Louw van Rhyn; KwaZulu Natal: Jamie White, Netania Harilal, Nicola Bentley, Savannah Ingledew, Dali Mahaye; Northerns: Ashton Weir, Deneil Beukes, Jordan Phillips, Hubert van Eck, Jarrod Cousins, Liam van der Merwe, Luhan Groenewald; SACF: Ian de Jager; Western Province: Jessica Brown, Rachel Tudhope, Seth Flisberg.
Under 14 and under 16 Academies
From Thursday 27th September until Monday 2nd October 35 promising under 14 and 16 juniors, housed at the High Performance Centre, will be subjected to some rigorous training, lectures on nutrition, refereeing and also enjoy coaching sessions with Hadrian Stiff, Mohammed El Shorbagy’s coach.
Boland: Karo Beets, Nicholas Cronje, Shelomi Truter; Border: Tristen Worth, Peter Townes, Lara Patrick, Monique de Cruz, Tyla Mae Roux, Amber Jacoby; Central Gauteng: Musi Buthelezi, Amukelani Zitha, Jemma Warsop; Easterns: Hannah McBride; Eastern Province: Dean Venter, Ethan Richardson; Free State: Matthew Kirk, Danja van Rhyn, Elske Garbers, Kyle Kitching, Chrizanne Louw, Almarie Claasen; KwaZulu Natal: Luke Bowley, Nirmeen Khan, Nadia Dippenaar; North West: Dylan Niemack; Northerns: Brett Mclachlan, Damian Groenewald, Awande Malinga, Zene Fourie, Joha van der Merwe; Western Province: Matthew Reid, Rebecca Glanville, Jacques Duminy, Jordyn Campbell.
