Coastal players compete with gusto

Buccaneers squash club at Walvis Bay hosted its first junior tournament of the year, the JAJ Logistics Junior Open, last weekend at the Buccaneers and WASRA courts.

A healthy turnout of 34 players entered, with juniors coming from Windhoek, Swakopmund and Walvis Bay. The juniors contested at age groups under 11, u.14, u.16 and u.19. Most of the u.11 and u.14s played in their first ever squash tournament.

The tournament was held as an initiative to start promoting and developing Namibian junior squash. The plan is to hold at least three junior tournaments in Walvis Bay per year, one for every term of the school year.

The Namibian junior squash team will be heading to Bloemfontein next week on their yearly tour, to participate in the South African Country Districts Squash Festival. Officials believe they have the potential to make Namibia proud.

Besides JAJ Logistics as the main sponsor who made the tournament possible, other sponsors were J. de Witt and Buccaneers squash club. All of these contributions are greatly appreciated.

The tournament started off Friday night with the u.11 boys, u.11 girls and u.14 girls battling it out. All players in the u.11 section were playing in their first ever squash tournament.

In the u.11 girls Juane Brand came first and also got the award for being the most promising girl squash player, earning herself a brand new squash racket.

In the u.11 boys Stephen Fourie came third, Christo Smit second and Tiaan van der Westhuizen first. Tiaan also got the prize of most promising boy squash player, earning himself a brand new squash racket. Willem Louwrens got rewarded for the great spirit in which he plays the game, receiving the prize of best sportsmanship for boys.

The u.14 girls also saw most of them playing in their first ever squash tournament. Ines Pao Alvo came third, Malinda Bam second and Justine van der Meer first. Malinda Bam got the prize for most improved girls player and Ines Pao Alvo received the best sportsmanship for girls award.

The age group for u.16 boys was tightly contested, with some great squash being played. Johann van der Merwe walked away in third place, Joshua Wood in second and Ettiene Beukes first. Joshua Wood not only finished second, but he also got a prize as most dedicated player. Wim van der Plas who was playing in his first squash tournament, received the most improved boy prize.



under 19

The u.19 girls section was contested between Stephanie Wittman, Marcha-le Breytenbach and Chelsea de Gouveia, all three of whom have been chosen to represent Namibia at the SACD tournament in Bloemfontein. De Gouveia managed to win the section without dropping a set, with Stephanie Wittman taking second and Marcha-le Breytenbach third place.

The u.19 boys section showed how much talent current exists in Namibian junior squash. There were numerous five-setters and the games were all extremely tight. In the end Cabous Oliver came third, Ze-Ellias de Jongh second and Brandon Grane first.

Henko Knipe received a prize for exceptional achievement. Henko played in the u.19 section, while he is still u.16. He had narrow losses against Brandon and Ze-Ellias. Henko is definitely a player for the future and one to keep an eye on.