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Photos: Supplied By: HERMAN GIBBS

A host of young squash players are starting to make their mark and Awande Malinga is certainly among them

AWANDE Malinga first picked up a squash racquet when she was just seven years old and has not put it down since.

Malinga, 16, one of the hottest prodigies in South African squash, developed her passion for the game while watching her dad Celumusa, who is still her coach.

Celumusa, though, believes the time has come for him to step aside in order for his daughter to take the step up to the next level.

“Awande’s ambition is to turn professional,” he said. “She would also like to explore the opportunity of taking up a scholarship with an international university which will enable her to study, get a degree and at the same time play squash at the highest competitive level.

“In the short and intermediate term, she is working on improving her game. She is playing more tournaments, especially international junior events, to prepare for a professional career.

“Before Awande can become a force on the world tour, she needs regular exposure to international competition. It means she will need to play abroad fairly often and have a professional coaching structure supporting her.”

Rodney Durbach, former SA men’s champion and Commonwealth Games bronze medallist, echoes the sentiments.

“Malinga is moving up the rankings very nicely. To get to the next level, she needs to play better opponents,” said Durbach.

“Your (higher-ranked) opponent is an opportunity to get better. The better your opponent is, the better the chances are that you are likely to improve.”

Malinga certainly has the pedigree. She recently finished runner-up at the SA Under-17 national championships, played in the all glass court at the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town, and is a previous Gsport4girls Public Choice award winner.

Squash South Africa’s (SSA) development programmes have started paying dividends with Malinga one of a host of players emerging from the previously disadvantaged ranks and asserting themselves in the national arena.

Other names making their presence felt on the national landscape include Western Province duo Seth Flisberg and Jacques Duminy – half brother of former Proteas cricketer JP Duminy – and Zunaid Lewis (Eastern Province).

But for Malinga and these other players to improve they require funding.

“It is a huge challenge, and her trips, as well as accommodation, have all come from the generous squash fraternity,” said Jennifer Sawyer, SSA national manager. “She is restricted in playing international junior tournaments abroad due to (a) lack of funding. She has already represented South Africa on the SA Schools Tour to Asia where the team played in Malaysia and Singapore a few years ago.”

According to Sawyer SSA are working on a funding model to assist junior players who qualify for international events in the future. Hopefully it will be achieved, for the sky is the limit for Malinga.

Awande Malinga recently finished second at the SA Under-17 national championships, played in the all glass court at the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town.