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 Tecnifibre
Tecnifibre
has signed up for a three-year deal to be title sponsor of the BJO
... we had a word with Tecnifibre's International Squash Manager
Guillaume Ducruet to get some of the reasoning behind the move ...
 "Tecnifibre
has a 60% market share in France in premium rackets in 2007 and is
strong in other European countries, so our main targets now are the
UK - which is the biggest market of all - and the USA.
So we decided to invest in the US Open on the pro tour, and in the
UK, along with our UK distributor Smash Sports we've sponsored the
British National Junior championships and now the British Junior
Open.
We're not after the biggest market share we can get, but we consider
Tecnifibre as a young brand, and want to make it a bit different and
original, particularly with the younger generation.
To be associated with the BJO is very important for us, especially
as lots of the top juniors now play with Tecnifibre. Many of the
finalists will be our players, and all the winners and runners-up
will be offered deals with Tecnifibre.
We don't want to be see as just a French brand, but as young,
different and closer to the young generation – our dream is to have
people say it's cool to play with Tecnifibre …" |
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Come with me, Coach ...
Having kids is a long-term commitment, and bringing them along to
the British Junior Open seems to entail signing your life away for
an extended period too.
Canada's Jonathan Hill started the ball rolling when he
mentioned that this was his seventh year of bringing the Maple Leaf
brigade, after which it seemed to be only sensible to ask some of
the other coaches ...
 Tony
Choi (Hong Kong), 12 years from 1997. "The first players I
brought here were Rebecca Chiu and Christina Mak, who are still
playing today and will be in the Asian senior championships again in
a few weeks.
Chris Robertson (Wales), "since 1995, but I missed one year."
 Ronnie
Vlassacs (Belgium), "I started coming when it was still at
Lambs, brought the Dutch team including players like Tommy Berden
and LJ Anjema for a few years. I've missed two years here, and have
brought the Belgian team for the last three years. It's always
special for the coaches and the players, they all work towards this.
 Satinder
Bajwa (Usa). "I've been here every year since '96 for some
reason or another. The first year was with some Israeli kids, but I
started to really get into the juniors after Jansher retired in '98,
and came here eight times as Harvard coach.
Magdi Saad (Egypt), "10 years and more ..."
Cyrus Poncha (India), "I came once in 1994 and then every
year since 2002".
Amr Wagih (Egypt). I first came in 1989, then every year
since 1992. We weren't winning titles in the early days, it wasn't
until '93/94 with Barada and Faizy that we started inning titles,
then kept it going with players like Shabana, Ramy, Mosaad and now
Shorbagy. We won six titles last year, but it will be hard to equal
that this time."
Paul Selby (England). "I brought my kids to all the events,
the last two at Lambs and every one here. Now it's not my own kids
but some of the ones I coach, and I'm also representing Head."
Philippe Signoret (France). "Only eight years ..."
Sjief Van Der Heijdn (Holland). "Funny, my daughter just
asked me that! I've been coming here continuously since 1995,
normally with a group of about 10-14."
Francisco Bussi (Denmark). I've done three years as Danish
coach, two as Italian ...
 Fred
Lecomte (France). "I first came in 1990/91, so that must be 18
years! In the early days we brought along under 14s like Thierry
Lincou, Renan Lavigne, Jean-Michel Arcucci, then Isabelle Stoehr.
We've brought about 18 this time, some with a good chance, some for
the experience, they have to come to the British, to experience it
and to see the level they have to aim for. |
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