“N.Z. SQUASH PLAYERS NOT DEDICATED”

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31349, 20 April 1967, Page 11

“N.Z. SQUASH PLAYERS NOT DEDICATED”

M. Dardir, of Egypt, the professional coach employed by the New Zealand Squash Rackets Association, is now in Christchurch for the start of his South Island coaching sessions.

Dardir is under contract to the N.Z.S.R.A. for two years and could play a major part in raising the standard of the game in New Zealand.

For the last five years he has coached Australia’s top players and brought them to the top of world amateur squash.

Since taking up his appointment on March 1, Dardir has been travelling through

the Waikato and up to Whangarei. On his way south he coached at New Plymouth and Palmerston North.

He will make twb trips to the South Island this year, each time going as far south as Invercargill and north to Nelson.

At present he is finding the tour strenuous as he is coaching six hours a day and travelling an average of 100 miles a day. Although impressed with the excellent amenities provided at clubs, Dardir is disappointed at the apparent lack of dedicated young players. “Squash is becoming a major world sport,” he said, “and top players can earn world trips.” He pointed out that Aext

year the world championships would be held in his home land of Egypt and that a team would be sent from New Zealand to compete. With the number of courts being built throughout the country much greater numbers of players were being catered for, but unfortunately there were few courts being built at secondary schools. Schoolboy players were needed in New Zealand to add depth to the game. While in each centre Dardir will hold clinics as well as giving personal tuition. In th,e clinics he will give instruction in rules, umpiring, courtcraft, and common faults, the aim being to improve the players’ theoretical knowledge of the game.