New generation of NZ players needed, Thai coach says
ONE of world petanque’s most highly qualified gurus is in Dunedin.
Kant Petchaboon arrived in the city on Tuesday night and had the first of three days running coaching sessions in the city yesterday.
From Bangkok in Thailand, Petchaboon is one of just four coaches outside of France to have a level three qualification.
He has been travelling around the main centres of New Zealand, Dunedin coming at the end of a 16day tour.
That has enabled a wide range of players and coaches to be exposed to his teachings.
He is enjoying his time and hopes to improve the game, although he is hoping to inspire some new people into the game.
‘‘I hope that New Zealand petanque can get a level up in the coming season,’’ he said.
‘‘All the people in here, they love petanque, but the problem is it is only older people.
‘‘We need the new generation and young people to come into the club and into the New Zealand federation.’’
He said he was teaching them how to control the ball, using a ‘‘simple but stable’’ approach.
Likewise, he was hoping to improve the strategic and tactical knowledge within the country.
Dunedin City Petanque club captain and Petanque New Zealand president Stefany Frost said it had been great having him.
He had run a session for the country’s six national and regional coaches in Auckland, from which they received a level one coaching qualification.
That was a big bonus, as not only did it boost the coaching quality in New Zealand, it meant the knowledge could trickle down to lower levels.
It was hoped that could help the country develop a consistent way of doing things.
People from various clubs around Dunedin and as far away as Alexandra were making use of Petchaboon’s expertise this week.
Frost said that along with the group there yesterday, there would be some younger players attending today.
It had been an 18month process trying to get Petchaboon to the country. Both New Zealand’s schedule and his own had been busy.
Now that he was here, it was hoped to get him back in
January next year.
Both he and Petanque New Zealand were keen to make that happen, although finances would be the major barrier to that.
He is set to fly back to Thailand this weekend.