TENNIS Jamaica (TJ) will be boosted on the technical front with respected Japanese coach Yuki Kawase joining its ranks.

Kawase’s two-year assignment will be covered by the Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA) on behalf of the Government of Japan.

The Japanese government, through JICA, has undertaken a broad-based social programme in its overseas missions. It currently runs programmes in Jamaica in the areas of sport, education, environment, disaster prevention, community development, and cultural exchange.

Kawase, who has coached tennis for over 20 years, has coached in the USA, Canada, China, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, and also in South America.

He is a former tennis player who only played one professional match, but competed in many junior tournaments when he was a teenager. Kawase said he quit after losing a match, and decided to teach the sport from then.

Kawase first came to Jamaica in 2015 as coach of a Japanese player competing in the International Tennis Federation (ITF) Jamaica Junior Tournament.

“I have been coaching both professionals and juniors for many years, and many have been doing well on the international Association of Tennis Professional (ATP) circuit,” he said.

The Japanese said his new assignment will be focused on Jamaica’s upcoming team events in all categories, but he will pay special attention on the development of the individual player.

“Since I have been here last month, I have been watching several of the young players in action and they need to be better prepared for matches.

“My role is to see the development of young players, especially with the techniques and skills of the game, and also to share my experience with the local coaches by teaching them the advanced knowledge,” said the 41-year-old Kawase.

The Japanese says he wants to focus also on the foot work and mental aspect of the Jamaican players.

“Their foot work is presently too slow and they are also a little weak. They need to get at least one-and-a-half hours of foot work drills (movements on court) daily, and also to make them mentally stronger,” Kawase pointed out.

“In Japan, the players train at least three hours daily for the ones going to school, and six hours each on Saturdays and Sundays. That will make your technique much higher. The Jamaican players need to give 100 per cent in training, even if it is only two hours each day,” he said.

Kawase noted that the players also need to develop good training and eating habits, plus they need to enjoy the game more. He thinks they are too tense in match situations. “They must be relaxed while playing, as what I have seen with many of the players, their faces are too tense when they are playing or training and this is not good for their development,” he said.

— Gerald Reid