The Ugly, the Bad and the Good by Alan Stapleton January 29, 2017
I should not be writing this article.
These things should not have happened. But we live in South Africa. And they do.
Squash in the Eastern Province, (apart from being pretty poor) is in a
good space. Lots happening, lots of talent floating around, great
camaraderie and friendship , and I could go on. Last year, Angela
Difford sadly passed away, but she left a rich legacy of passion for
squash. Part of that legacy, is the Old Grey Development Squash project
which has been run by another Squash angel, Darryl Smith. It is a
development programme which is sustainable, and talks to the people who
are involved, as people…insists on a completed education, and then
seeks to assist in employment. These are not just squash players. They
are a group of fine young people, with feelings, emotions, ambitions,
talent but sadly, they come from impoverished backgrounds
The project has spawned a number of players who have gone on to
represent Eastern Province at the inter-provincial tournaments...Thami
Mngcete, Bonakele Nomkala, and Lonwabo Sigeli. Others like, Yanga
Manxeba, have become involved in coaching….and there are still a host
of younger ones coming through…fast ! Siphelele Mpini, represented a
South African Under 16 side in Malaysia in 2016. Remember that name. Is
it not strange that while hosts of rugby players and cricketers are
offered scholarships and bursaries at schools, there is no interest in
attracting a player as talented, and as committed as Mpini to these
institutions ?
But last month, the project was rocked. Ugly and Bad things happened
The Ugly
One of the longest serving members of the project, Bonakele Nomkala,
who has represented the EP Jarvis side on numerous occasions was struck
with disaster. The house in which he was living burned down. All of his
possessions disappeared in a gulf of flames. He had little… but what he
had, disappeared.
The Bad
Even worse, Zama Galada, another product of the Programme. A big, young
man, filled with a zest for life, with a personality bigger than his
body, talent oozing from his pores, but as a squash player probably a
bit too impetuous and impatient. He still had to fulfill his potential.
While he was playing at a very reasonable 2nd League level, 1st league
was definitely within reach.
Not only that, work-wise, he had just started in a new position, in an Upholstery firm, and from all accounts was blossoming.
Sadly, that potential will never be fulfilled. Last month, he was
pointlessly shot in an attempted burglary at his home, and passed away
from the injuries sustained
The Good
Within hours of a call from Marcus Oshry and EP Squash, the Port
Elizabeth Squash fraternity rallied, and support for both Bonakele and
Zama’s family flowed. Beds, mattresses, cutlery, kitchen appliances and
cash. And Port Elizabeth’s favourite sporting store, Brian Bands Sports
stepped in and backed Bonakele with a totally new squash kit.
More good
Early in January, a Squash SA funded Junior academy, under the guidance
of Jason Le Roux, Greg La Mude and Bianca Brown was run in Port
Elizabeth catering for 20 of the “elite” juniors from all over the
Eastern Cape. Within the group there were two national ‘champions” in
Tristan Worth, Under 14, , and Danell Douglas, Under 16. The complement
all featured in the 2016 Top 10 in their respective age groups, or were
very close, hovering on the outside looking in. There is an amazing
wealth of squash talent in this region and it will be interesting to
see how the likes of Murray Schepers, Siphelel Mpini, Mikayla Boy,
Gerard Mitchell, Lara Patrick and Dean Venter feature this year.
Hopefully the camp will have set them on the path to improve on those
rankings for 2017. The 1st two days involved extensive fitness and
skills testing, which sadly, exposed many of the players. If nothing
else, the players will have realised that perhaps they have achieved
their current rankings through sheer natural talent, and a little bit
of work. And that the road to real success in the senior age groups,
and later the adult world, is paved with many hours of lonely, long
hours on the court, on their own. The Saturday and Sunday were more
geared to the mind, to the Thinking side of the game, video analysis
and creating a self-awareness of themselves as players. And
people. Something, without which theycannot grow.
Sadly, the camp could only scratch the surface.. Clearly, there is a
desperate need for more camps of thisnature, and for on-going coaching
and guidance. The year ahead will be tough for these players as they
squeeze in their other school commitments and it will involve many
weekends of back-to-back travellingto ranking tournaments. A costly,
time-consuming lonely exercise. The life of a Cinderella sports-person
is not easy.
By chance, I watched an old 70’s movie, called Kelly’s Heroes the other
day. A war movie with a Western taste. The story told, (apparently
true) is of a group of renegade soldiers who broke rules, took risksand
went through tough times to get their hands on a hidden German bullion.
Like Kelly’s Heroes, these players will also have to follow different
paths, chase different rainbows, battle through lonely hours of solo
practice, and sole travelling. But hopefully, Like Kelly’s Heroes, they
will get their hands on their gold, and as in all good ol’Western
movies, the good guys will come out TOPS!!
I am glad I wrote this article. It is good to get things off your chest.
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STOP PRESS: More Good News
Thanks to financial support from The Jesters Squash Club, a visit to
the city from SA No 1 Squash lady,and inspirational former Eastern Cape
girl, Siyoli Waters and internationally-ranked Alex Fuller, to do some
coaching, offer a clinic and play an exhibition match has been saved.
The two will be visiting Port Elizabeth on the afternoon of Saturday 4
February and be playing and coaching at the Old Grey Courts.
More information will be sent to Squash Clubs when details are finalised
