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WISPA PROMOTIONAL TOUR
TO KENYA June 2001

2004 Tour

1 WISPA Welcomed to Kenya  |  2 Parklands Magic  |  3 Kenya uplifted by visit
1 FITZ-GERALD & CHARMAN-SMITH
   WELCOMED AT NAIROBI CLUB IN KENYA
Leading international squash players Sarah Fitz-Gerald and Linda Charman-Smith, the world No3 from Australia and world No4 from England, respectively, arrived in Nairobi for the beginning of their three-day WISPA promotional visit to Kenya fully refreshed. 

After their demanding exploits earlier in the month in the British Open - in which Fitz-Gerald claimed the prestigious title for the first time after her fourth appearance in the final, and Charman-Smith battled through to her third successive semi-final - then in the 'England v Rest of the World' Test series - in which the British Open champion led the visitors to success over the England team which included Charman-Smith - both were looking forward to a break.

So before embarking upon the packed programme organised by the Kenya Squash Rackets Association in conjunction with the Women's International Squash Players' Association, the pair experienced the best that Kenya has to offer the discerning international tourist - including overnight stays at the world-famous Ark in the central highlands and at the idyllic Mount Kenya Safari Club, then a two-day safari on Masai Mara - one of the greatest grassland systems on earth - including a spectacular hot-air balloon ride over the game-filled plains.

Despite vivid memories of the elephants, giraffes, lions, cheetahs, rhino, hippopotamuses, water buffalo, monkeys, baboons, bongos, ostriches, zebras, etc, etc, that they had seen, they quickly had to get back into squash mode as they arrived at the Kenyan capital city's renowned Nairobi Club for the opening day's programme.

Founded exactly 100 years ago, the Nairobi Club is firmly established as an integral part of Nairobi's social and sporting culture.  It is the national centre for hockey and bowls, the headquarters of the Kenya Lawn Tennis Association and Kenya SRA, and was at one time the national centre for cricket.

An enthusiastic group of juniors first enjoyed coaching sessions with Sarah and Linda.  Kenya's Under-16 champion Shreya Bhogaita, who moves to Hertfordshire in England in September to continue her schooling, was enthralled by the experience:  "Sarah helped to improve my game within fifteen minutes," she told a reporter from the country's leading national newspaper "Nation".

After matches against the club's top two women - Sarah took on former Kenyan No1 Jan Keenan while Linda put ladies captain and top five player Harsita Waters through her paces - the pair faced challenges by two of the country's top young men.

"I really enjoyed it - it's the best thing that's ever happened to me," enthused Kenya's U-19 champion Otto Kwach after his 9-2 9-3 defeat by Fitz-Gerald in front of a packed Nairobi Club gallery cheering the youngster's every winner.  "She was just too fast - I expected her to be good, but didn't know she'd be that fast!" said Kwach, already No5 in the country's senior rankings.

Charman-Smith faced 19-year-old Hardeep Reel, a second year student at Embry Riddle Aeronautical College in Daytona Beach, Florida, USA - where there are no squash courts!  Reel, a former national champion at U12, U14, U16 and U19, had clearly rediscovered his form since returning to Nairobi for his summer vacation - but went down 9-5 6-9 9-3 to the English visitor, despite partisan decisions by the referee!

"She was too good," said Reel afterwards.  "I've seen top women playing in the Heliopolis Open in Egypt, though, so I knew what to expect."

The evening came to an entertaining close with an exhibition match between the two WISPA rivals - in which Fitz-Gerald was made to work hard to maintain her remarkable unbeaten record in all events since last November when she came back from a game down to beat Charman-Smith 7-9 9-6 9-5.

"We've had a great time here in Kenya," said WISPA President Sarah Fitz-Gerald to the crowd after the match.  "And we really, really, really want to come back."

Nairobi Club chairman George Kariuki was fulsome in his praise of this WISPA/Kenya SRA initiative.  "It's wonderful to have had this opportunity to expose our players to international players of this quality.  The more we can attract initiatives like this, the better chance we have of giving Kenyan players something to aspire to.

"But it's not just for competitors, but for sponsors and supporters too," added Kariuki.  "We all need to see what we have to aim for in order to achieve true international success."

 

 


Sarah (left) and Linda pictured outside the Nairobi Club with
Kenya SRA Chairman Varun Sharma



Linda (left) and Sarah outside the Kichwa Tembo camp,
our Masai Mara base.

 


Linda and Sarah with their Nairobi Club opponents
Hardeep Reel (left) and Otto Kwach.

2 WISPA AMBASSADORS WEAVE THEIR
        MAGIC AT KENYA'S PARKLANDS CLUB

The three-day women's squash promotional tour of Kenya, starring leading international players Sarah Fitz-Gerald, the world No3 from Australia, and Linda Charman-Smith, the world No4 from England, moved on to the Parklands Club in Nairobi for the second action-packed day.

The Women's International Squash Players' Association initiative, organised with the Kenya Squash Rackets Association, is the third such WISPA campaign in three years. In 1999 Fitz-Gerald led a delegation to the Czech Republic, and last year a WISPA team showed off the appeal of women's squash to audiences in Jamaica, El Salvador and Peru.

Parklands is the biggest squash club in Nairobi, boasting eight courts including a championship court featuring spectator capacity of more than 150.  Formed in 1906, Parklands also offers hockey, soccer, rugby, a nine-hole putting green, 13 tennis courts, three snooker tables, a fully-equipped gym, a heated outdoor swimming pool - and five bars, plus a restaurant and barbecue terrace.

With publicity of Fitz-Gerald and Charman-Smith's presence in Nairobi now featured in Kenya's national news media, hordes of youngsters made tracks for the club - eager to pick up tips from the world-class pair.

After coaching sessions and clinics, the WISPA ambassadors played a number of the club's top women. Sarah beat club champion Michelle Gilardi 9-5, while Linda took on Kenya U-19 champion Zoe Gibbs. "I was very nervous, and I'm sure I would have played better if we'd been able to play another game," said the youngster after her 9-0 defeat. "It was a great experience and I really learned a lot."  

Zoe takes her A-levels next year and hopes to win a place at Bath University in England to study for a Sports & Exercise degree. "It was wonderful to have Sarah and Linda here to here to show us how to play squash, rather than just hitting a ball round a court. Watching Linda and Sarah play each other gave me a real insight into what you have to aim at, and certainly opened my eyes to the standard of professional world-class women's squash," added Zoe.

As the galleries filled out with squash enthusiasts of all ages, the WISPA pair treated two of the club's top men to a workout which wholly entertained the crowd. 

Charman-Smith's opponent was Parklands squash captain Gekuo Ndirangu. "That was such a great experience," said the popular Parklands player after his 9-7 9-6 loss. Ndirangu is a leading figure in Kenyan squash - though he only took up the sport five years ago in the latest stage of an impressive sporting career in which he has represented his country in cycling, hockey and basketball!

"We are very honoured to have hosted this visit by Sarah and Linda to Parklands - and I am sure their appearance here will continue to have an impact over years to come," Gekuo added.

Fitz-Gerald's clash was altogether a more serious affair - from which Prince Mugaka was looking for nothing less than victory. The Parklands coach moved to Nairobi from Zambia some two years ago, since when he has become one of Kenya's leading players.

"Sarah played pretty well in the first game and I was under pressure," said the surprised and clearly embarrassed Zambian after his 9-2 9-7 defeat. "I handled the pressure much better in the second game, but lost concentration when I was leading 7-2. If I'd won that game I'm sure I would have beaten her. I did expect it to be tough, but I thought I would beat her. I'm not disappointed - but I will definitely beat her next time."

With another successful day in Nairobi behind them, WISPA director Andrew Shelley had every reason to be delighted with the association's tour of the East African country: "It's so satisfying to see so many people, young and not-so-young, entranced by the skills of two of the sport's top women players. Sarah and Linda are tremendous ambassadors and Kenyan squash has taken us into their hearts. We've reached out to the players and the media here and built some very strong relationships".


Sarah and Linda pictured outside the Parklands club with keen young players

 


Linda demonstrates the grip to nine-year-old Hussain Talal

 

 


Linda (left) and Sarah with their opponents Gekuo Ndirangu (left) and Prince Mugaka

3 KENYA SQUASH UPLIFTED BY FITZ-GERALD
    & CHARMAN-SMITH VISIT
 


"One of the best things that's ever happened for Kenyan squash,"
is how Varun Sharma, Chairman of the Kenya Squash Rackets Association, described the
three-day promotional visit by Sarah Fitz-Gerald and Linda Charman-Smith, the world No3 from Australia and world No4 from England, respectively, to the country's capital Nairobi.


The Kenya tour, conceived by the Women's International Squash Players' Association, followed similar WISPA initiatives to other countries where the sport is established, but where international women's events have yet to be staged. In 1999 Fitz-Gerald led a delegation to the Czech Republic, and last year a WISPA team showed off the appeal of women's squash to audiences in Jamaica, El Salvador and Peru.

"Whilst we have a thriving squash community here in Kenya, we do not have as many women and girls as we want," explained Sharma. "The WISPA trip has been a real boost.

"Everyone has really enjoyed watching Sarah and Linda put our top men through their paces, and for so many of us it was a real treat to play with them and receive coaching tips. The national newspaper and television coverage will also undoubtedly encourage more Kenyans to sample our great sport.

"Our next AGM is in two days' time, and I know that such is the enthusiasm generated within the entire squash community here there that everybody will want to take a more active part in the future," Sharma added. "Thank you WISPA!"

Kenya boasts some 200 courts throughout the country, based mainly in the capital Nairobi, the coastal town of Mombassa, and Kisumi in the province of Nyanza, some 500 kilometres north west of Nairobi. Without a single public court, the country's squash stars of the future will inevitably hail exclusively from member clubs like the Nairobi Club and Parklands Club, visited by the WISPA delegation on the first two days in Nairobi.

"Our country is famous for its long-distance athletes, but these sports stars' overheads are almost negligible," said KSRA committee member Anish Harania. "By comparison, squash can be expensive for youngsters - who need to find both equipment and a club to play at. We're fortunate that many international schools here have their own courts - including the Nairobi Academy which boasts four courts and often up to 50% of the youngsters who compete in our junior events."

The KSRA hosts a full calendar of events throughout the year - from national junior competitions at U-10 through to U-19, to senior events including the Coast Open in Mombassa and the three events which make up the Safari circuit, the Kenya Open, Parklands Open and Nairobi Open.  In the future, it is hoped that the circuit will not only feature women's events, but additional tournaments in the neighbouring 'Safari' countries - Uganda and Tanzania. 

Anish Harania and Parklands club captain Gekuo Ndirangu also organise the flourishing Kenya club league - featuring 50 four-man teams from 20 clubs in 10 divisions. Following the WISPA visit, Gekuo looks forward to next season's league. "When I next play a local player, I'm going to be much more disciplined on court - not going for winners at every opportunity.

"We learned a number of lessons from Sarah and Linda's matches - both against each other and against us - and we were able to put these lessons into practice at a training session the following day," explained Ndirangu. "When we play against top men when they visit our country, they beat us, but we don't learn anything. With Sarah and Linda, they also beat us, but we learn a lot."

Fitz-Gerald and Charman-Smith, who are President and Chairman, respectively, of WISPA, concluded their action-packed Kenyan schedule with a visit to the Karen Country Club - a luxurious golf, tennis and squash club on the outskirts of Nairobi, on the estate formerly owned by Karen Blixen, noted author of "Out of Africa".

The pair delighted the packed crowd with an evenly-contested exhibition match, before embarking upon a series of coaching clinics and further matches against the club's top team players.

Keith Taylor, who coaches the club's juniors and is a team regular, said after his duel with Sarah: "How great was that - playing one of the world's top stars who has taken time out to come and visit us here in Nairobi!  Two things really struck me - firstly that they are such nice and friendly girls, not 'prima donna-like' in any way, and secondly that they don't necessarily play fantastic shots, but simply straight and tight shots which are almost impossible to get back," said the overwhelmed Karen Club member.

A question and answer session rounded up the visit, with enthusiasts of all ages quizzing the girls on all aspects of the professional game, including match preparation and training; traditional and point-a-rally scoring; doubles; TV coverage including the new 6% larger ball; the sport's status worldwide; rules; etc.

Karen Country Club squash captain John Miners was full of praise of the WISPA duo as the club visit came to an end. "We are a small squash club, more 'social' than 'top ten', and rarely get the chance of seeing how the game is really played. We were delighted to welcome Sarah and Linda here and wished they could have stayed longer.  Please come back soon," pleaded Miners.

While numerous Nairobi enthusiasts revelled in Sarah and Linda's various appearances, the ambassadorial squash duo will also take home fond memories of their whistle-stop visit to the East African country, which included stopovers at the world-famous Ark in the central highlands and at the idyllic Mount Kenya Safari Club, then a two-day safari on Masai Mara where they thrilled to sights of elephants, giraffes, lions, cheetahs, rhino, hippopotamuses, water buffalo, monkeys, baboons, bongos, ostriches, zebras, etc, etc, in their natural habitat.

"Our visit to Kenya was unbelievably enjoyable - everything I expected it to be," said Fitz-Gerald. "The locals were so enthusiastic, and willing to listen and learn. Linda and I were able to demonstrate women's squash to a very vocal and appreciative crowd."

Linda Charman-Smith added: "We all had a magnificent time in Kenya. The safari was truly amazing, and Sarah and I found the Kenyan squash players, both young and old, very keen and enthusiastic.  We hope our visit will help encourage squash to grow in this great area of the world. We'd love there to be a big WISPA event here, as we definitely want to come back."


Sarah and Linda bid farewell to Kenya with WISPA director Andrew Shelley, overlooking the country's famous Rift Valley

 

 

: Linda (left) and Sarah pictured outside the Karen Country Club

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