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 En Bref Issue #4
Everything you never knew
you needed to know about the Saudi International |
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BOYS, BOYS, BOYS....
Well, after my spotlight on the girls yesterday, let's see who
has been working behind the scene to make it happen in Saudi for
this fifth edition.
Of course, there is Ziad, who's been, as I've already
explained to you in my previous stories, "au four et au moulin",
as we say in French, as in present on all fronts! Add to that a
little gift every day for us all, we are talking food here,
which once again may appear like a detail to you, but express
how attentionate this man can be for the people that work around
him.
 But who is working around him that you may not have heard about?
Well, we have Emad Zikry, who we communicate with by mail all
year long, who arranges everything, from visas to flights to
accommodations to cars to the town to, to, to....
Golden Emad we call him.
 Then there is Hadi
Mitri - Hady has been working with Ziad's family for years now,
18 I believe - and is in charge of the running of the venue.
And that's a lot!
I don't reduce his role to that of course, but I needed a power
point next to my seat in the arena? Done. I needed to go to town
to buy the clothing in accordance with Saudi's protocol, Hady
got me to a nice shop, negotiated the price for me, and dragged
me away as I was about to buy the whole shop!!!! Nice man he is.... |
Of course we had the official
referees, Roy Gingell, World Ref from Wales and tournament
referee, along with Nasser Zahran, World Ref from Egypt, and
Damien Green
from Australia, International Ref.
And how not to talk about Jean Delierre ... Along with his team,
he's been producing the excellent TV production along with the
Saudi TV crew. Jean is "Canadian Français", you cannot not know
him, he's been producing Squash videos for years on
SquashLive.com, and his DVD's are second to none really.
We had a good giggle during this week, as we always do, he is as
passionate and original as I can be, and it's always a great
chance to work alongside him.
Tonight, the world number one seat will be decided on that
court, like it was decided in 2005, between Jonathan Power and
Anthony Ricketts. And Steve and I will be witnessing the magic
moment. But without all those boys, boys, boys, nothing would
have been possible for us here.
Many thanks to you all.... |
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En Bref Issue #3
Everything you never knew
you needed to know about the Saudi International |
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GIRLS,
GIRLS, GIRLS…
 Caroline
Glain, a therapist from France, that works between
Manchester and Paris, and helps a lot of players getting better,
has been invited to join the Saudi Party. Her specialty, “fasciatherapy”,
don’t ask me, but it seems to work on an awful lot of injuries,
and a lot of the players – and myself - swear by it.
Here are her first impressions of this tournament…
Officially this is my first time working at a PSA sanctioned
event. Saudi Arabia was not the country/Kingdom I would have
ever imagined working at. A new country, with a different
culture to what I have experienced before and it is also a
privilege to be invited to work at what has been traditionally
the biggest event on the calendar over the last few years.
 Geographically
I did not know exactly where I was travelling to so i bought a
magazine packed with info on this country in Roissy
International airport. It made interesting reading.
Emad, the tournament co-ordinator was extremely efficient, from
obtaining visas to my getting my travel itinerary, which made my
life easy. Emad provided my room, showed me the systems with the
food and drink making me feel very welcome.
Sunset Beach is a fantastic facility with lovely Cabanas
overlooking the sea and a late serving restaurant that makes
getting food easy so I can work around the players schedules.
 The
players have had a long and very intense schedule since starting
in September with the British Open in Manchester. Since then
there have been 7 major Super Series events on 4 different
continents for the players to deal with. Tired Bodies from this
competition and travel has meant that a lot have players have
needed treatment and I have rather busy.
Having known and worked with a few of the players and knowing
Framboise prior to coming here in an official capacity, it has
helped me to communicate and to know the players in the event.
 It
is also worth mentioning that the court is by far the best i=I
have seen. The glass is clean and the new floor seems much less
slippery and will help the players to play their best squash and
avoid injuries.
Thanks must go to Ziad and Robert for inviting me here.
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GIRLS, GIRLS, GIRLS…
Meet Lindly Liew.
She’s been living in Saudi for a few years now, with her
husband, lecturer at the KFUPM University. She’s got two
children, and is one of the few ladies playing squash in Sunset
Beach.
“It’s really difficult to play for me here, there are so few
ladies playing squash, so I’ve got to play with the men, but
they are much fitter than me, and I struggle! I don’t know what
happened after having my two girls, the body just… changed!!!!”
From Malaysian/Chinese origin, she is an extremely clever and
witty lady, we were sitting next to each other throughout the
second session of the second round, and we giggled a lot, I have
to admit.
I only hope she’ll be coming at all the matches from now on,
it’s nice to have a lovely lady to chat to, not to mention that
she did the magic trick on me…
She went to get me a cup of tea. Friends for life…..
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NORMAL DAY AT THE OFFICE
Well, let me explain to you how a day goes by here. I’m talking
for our days except the first round, which was complete mayhem..
So, I normally wake up around 8, 8.30. I get on the computer
straight away, as ever, as I’m part of a few lucky cabanas that
can get internet. OK, it’s a bit on and off, and it’s not such a
great signal, but hey, enough to work on the sites by
intermittence.
Then, off to the Café. I have to say it’s a bit like East Enders
for the UK TV viewers, or the Perk Café for the rest of the
world. As we have magnetic cards that allow us to buy food
there, you will always find at least a player or an official
there, at any time of the day.
 The
walk there is just the best walk ever. You leave your room with
a fantastic view on the sea front and pink flamingos that sit
there most of the days (at night, we get frogs, I feel hooooome).
You walk along the other cabanas, you have a stunning artificial
lake on your left, while in front of you, the sports centre in
which the court is erected, and the tournament office installed.
 You
go across some parking lots, with some stunning cars, it has to
be stressed, try to avoid to get squashed by bicycles, golf
carts, etc, and you arrive at the marina. The view is just
amazing, the breeze is normally brining you the lovely sea
distinctive and calming atmosphere.
Honestly, like I told you in my first en bref here, it’s a bit
like a holiday camp once you are at the Café.
We put tables
together, in the shadow, in the sun, depending on the players
fancy, and we order food, exchanging our extra meals. If there
is a space at the table, the next player will sit there. No
nationality hang ups, no team belonging. You are hungry, just
sit your butt here mate… |
 Then
I normally go back to my room to work. I know that some players,
still in the competition, go and get treatment with Caroline,
others go and train at the gym, the refs are training the local
refs every morning, and then go and swim to get rid of those
lovely ice creams they sell round the corner. Some players who
can’t change their flights, like Pilley, off to Australia, and
Kempy, off to New Zealand, have been organising their own
tournament. Bowling, Frisbee, Tennis… Boys, they just love to
compete, don’t they…
And Steve works.
 Then,
depending on what time the players perform at night, they
organise their meal in the afternoon, not to clash with their
practice on the glass court. Again, off we go to the Café.
From 4pm, I’m going to the Tournament Office, where Emad reigns,
along with Steve, the media, the refs, the players. In other
words, EVERYBODY who is ANYBODY works in there. Once again, a
great atmosphere…
After the matches, players go to drown their sorrow into food at
the same Café, enjoying a bit of Shishia, while the winners
replenish their bodies in view of the next battle.
And by waves, we all go to end the evening at the café, while
Steve is as ever the last one to leave the Tournament Office….
Go back to our rooms around midnight, a bit of work till 1,
1.30, and getting some beauty sleep, until another day start.
Like I said, normal day at the office. |
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En Bref
#2
Everything you never knew
you needed to know about the Saudi International |
ZIAD IN
ACTION, AGAIN…
 You
may guess how busy Ziad Al Turki - Saudi Promoter to who
we owe the five editions already event - is on PSA events. Of
course he relaxes sometimes, like for example
when he is in India, visiting Mumbai and playing a bit of
squash.
 But
that’s the tip of the iceberg. Not only he’s having important
meetings every day, not only as PSA Chairman, not only he’s got
his own company to take care of, he’s got also two of his kids
with him, bit of a handful, aren’t you Duman and
Sharifa – his wife has to stay home in London to look after
the youngest girl, but he is keeping an eye on everything.
 He
hates dirty glass courts, for example, and he made sure that the
cleaners were doing it right!
Also, this week, PSA is launching its
new
Streaming Channel any minute now, and we have Alex and
Lee, PSA’s CEO and COO here along with Daniel and Dominic
from Perform, not forgetting Omar, from PSA, to get it
right and offer you the best product available.
 Well,
Ziad also wants/needs to make sure that everything is in place.
And he didn’t hesitate to get behind the wheel, sorry, the
camera, to check angles and all.
I know you may smile at all this. But like the top athletes
know, like I’m obsessed with, it’s all about ATTENTION TO
DETAIL… |
They said
A “surprising” stroke at 8/7 against James in his last game
against Nick. James opens his mouth for the first time of the
match…
James:
“Don’t do that to me again, this is a crucial time, Ref. Did you
see how tight the ball was???
"No way this is a stroke…. I don’t practice tight balls for
hours for nothing…” |
Local ref
Waleed and Abdullah Altabash, his son, also a squash player,
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GET OUT, PLEASE?????
During the match between Adrian and Farhan, the court cleaner
was called a few times, not because of a slippery floor –
Saudi’s tournament has been experimenting a brand new floor for
the glass court, that is real success, no slipping, no bad
bounce, great stuff – but because of Adrian’s tendency to throw
himself on the floor to get Farhan’s stunning winners.
And on court comes a conscientious cleaner, who starts cleaning,
and cleaning, and cleaning. Thirty seconds, and Damien Green,
central ref, says the normal, “Thank you”.
The man doesn’t budge… He is doing his job, and thoroughly, I’m
here to tell you.
“Yes, thank you”. Nothing. “Thank you!!!!!” Cleaning goes on.
“Guys, push him off,” goes Damien with his notorious Australian
sense of humour. Ah, now we have a bit of movement. He goes for
the door, but as he is standing outside, he notices a stain on
the glass door. And off he is cleaning the door again…
One thing is sure, that man loves his job, and does it to
perfection. Shame I can’t take him home with me !!!!! |
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En Bref
#1
Everything you never knew
you needed to know about the Saudi International |
BYE
INDIA, WELCOME TO SAUDI…
After checking out, I had to go and have a last quick meal next
to the swimming pool, in a lovely shade. While Raj and
Ritwik were having a meeting with Alex Gough, PSA
Boss, in the patio inside, I was letting my mind go and wander….
The vegetation – bougainvilliers trees, don’t ask me the name in
English, in full bloom – the high trees, some people swimming,
some taking a not too hot sun, again, that feeling of peace all
around.
At 3pm, went into the Lobby, to meet with David Palmer,
who was on the same flight than mine. We made the big mistake to
tell Hisham – who is not the most punctual of all players
– and Ramy to join the fun, as their flight was 5m before
ours.
Of course, they arrived late. Of course, some of the volunteers
came to wave them goodbye, asked for souvenir photos, with and
without Ramy’s impressive trophy.
Off in a large car we went. And Hisham, the whole way, did the
show. A non stop mimic of all of us on the tour, accents,
expressions, stories. My abs still ache today cause I laughed so
much. That boy has got so much talent, I think after his career,
he should think about MCeing events, he would be perfect!!!!
The airport was well, a bit of a GI training session. First, you
queue to get in the airport. Then you queue about 45m to get to
the checking. Then you queue to pass security (mind you, I was
the only female, so I had a lane just for me, but waited about
15m for David to go through). Queue to get on the bus – we
nearly went on the wrong plane going to Chennai, as two planes
were boarding at the same gate!!). And of course, queue to get
on the plane.
Still, a nice flight, as David got us extra leg room, plus we
had an empty seat between us, great move…
I caught up a bit of sleep on there, and we arrived with only
30m delay in Bahrain, where Ziad was kind enough to take
Joey, David and myself in his car, which speeded up the
process immensely at the customs, although the system was down,
and it took a lot of time for us to finally get through. Poor
Ziad, I’m sure he regretted to be such a gentleman, without us,
we would have been home about an hour earlier!!!
Arrived about midnight, Adorable Emad was waiting for us
with our cabanas keys, and Steve with our restaurant card, and
as the food was still available, we had a nice bite before
crashing to bed. We don’t have internet in the cabanas, which
has the advantage to force me to go to bed instead of working
till uncanny hours!!!!
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BREAKFAST AT THE HOLIDAY CAMP
I have to admit that the first morning here has been perfect.
Waking up at 12 Indian time, as in 9.30 here, I was sort of
refreshed, although I must admit, slightly KNACKERED!!!
 As
I’m walking out, I’m meeting with Nick and Peter,
also on their way to the restaurant. As we are about to arrive,
a golf cart overtakes us, and at the back, lazy Ali and
Thierry… They are pros athletes, and they can’t get to
walk from their cabanas to the food outlet??? Bless….
We take a table, soon joined by Caroline Glain, who will
be in charge of my players bodies this week, a French therapist
that Greg, Thierry and many players already know and work with,
and Kempy, who I must say didn’t have the opportunities
to place a word, poor him…
 And
as we start breakfast, we are not in a squash tournament with
top athletes anymore, but in a camp somewhere. “I want two
porridges”, says Nick to the waiter, “you can have mine”, says
Caroline. “Who wants my toasts”, I say, as I’m trying to keep a
gluten free diet, five hands rush to the plate I’m passing on
the other side of the table. “Whose got jam??”, “nobody, they
are out of it, but you can have my honey, if you want.”
“Yoghourt anyone”? “I’ve got a fruit salad here”…
The table is full, food is warm, and lovely, coffee is in
abundance, the waiters don’t know what to do to please us,
although they often don’t understand a word of our different
English accents. We are laughing, we are relaxing, we are…
happy.
This is going to be such a lovely week, yet again…
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