An Interview With Squash Professional Muhammad Ali
September 12, 2018
Who and what got you squash career started? Moreover, what were the best moments as a player?
My dad was the first one who got me to try squash as a new sport. He
took me to Punjab squash complex, home club of former world # 2 and
former world junior champion Gogi Allaudin and Sohail Qaiser.
Gogi coached and helped me to be where I am right now. Growing up
watching top-notch players trains every day around me stirred up my
passion for squash even more. I spent countless hours practicing on
cemented courts without ceilings with direct sunlight raising the
temperature to sometimes 110 degrees Fahrenheit in summers–Squash
completes me and training young athletes gives me satisfaction and feel
of accomplishment. The game I know most of my life and growing up with
champions around me taught me the best way to train young athletes.
My best moment as a player was the final of college recruitment trials,
and I had to face # 2 ranked junior in the final. Only the winner
will be offered admission in a highly prestigious college, and after 67
minutes of grueling squash, I defeated my opponent in 4 games. It was
the happiest and most rewarding moment of my life. I understand what
that moment means to be selected and play for their college.
How did you get into coaching, what is your essential coaching philosophy?
My high school coach who instilled in me the values of respect,
dedication, inspired me. He led with examples and was a man of dignity
and honor. I always wanted to coach to pass on those values to my
students and to help them achieve their goals in life.
My coaching philosophy is based on three words, recognize, develop and
achieve. Nothing will change unless you change something. As a coach, I
help players acknowledge their strength and weaknesses, develop a
training program that enables them to utilize their strengths
effectively and overcome their shortcomings, train them to implement
those strategies in a match and achieve success. Every player has
different needs and style, and it is essential for a coach to develop
an emotional and mental connection and understanding with his players.
You can’t coach a player who doesn’t trust you. You have to earn their
trust. Lead by examples, spend time on the court with them, and show
them how it’s done. A good coach should know how to train his players
to be a consistent and unpredictable player on the court. Both
qualities are hard to learn and require skill and practice.
Please let me know something about the places where you have coached?
I came to the USA in the year 2000, and my first job was at Poly Prep
high school in Brooklyn, NY where I started as Head Boys & Girls
team coach. I was the first one to start an after-school squash program
at brand new three back glass wall courts at Poly. The plan was a huge
success and regarded as second best junior program in Brooklyn after
Bryan Patterson Height Casino program. I led the Blue Devils varsity
boys squash team to two consecutive undefeated seasons in league play
(11-0) in 25 years in 2004 and 2005.
After Poly, I joined Creek Country club in Long Island NY and
went back to school to pursue my Master degree in sports. In addition
to that, I volunteered to coach USA Elite squad training by Bryan
Patterson Height Casino program. I led the Blue Devils varsity boys
squash team to two consecutive undefeated seasons in league play (11-0)
in 25 years in 2004 and 2005.
After Poly, I joined Creek Country club in Long Island NY and
went back to school to pursue my Master degree in sports. In addition
to that, I volunteered to coach USA Elite squad training by Bryan
Patterson in Philadelphia in the summer of 2005.
Presently I coach a high school team in NYC, offer private lessons for
those who are struggling to improve their national rankings and match
coaching in tournaments in NYC and CT area.
Before that, I served as an Executive committee board member of Punjab
squash association affiliated with Pakistan Squash Federation and
served as Manager Lahore division squash association.
I believe one of your protégées was
Katie Giovinazzo, who later was a co-captain at Princeton. What was it
like coaching her and her siblings and please tell me about some of the
other players you have coached who have achieved distinction in junior
tournaments or prep school or college?
I started coaching Katie when she signed up for after-school squash
program at Poly in 7th grade. Squash runs in her family. Both her elder
brother Jerome and younger brother Vincent played for Poly varsity
squash team. I started coaching her since Katie was in 7th grade. She
improved her national ranking and was placed 5th in 2007 and 2009. She
was one of the highest ranked recruits in the country. She was the team
captain at Poly for three years and MVP for four years. As we all know,
she was the recipient of 2012 Richey award at Princeton. It was
absolute fun to coach Katie throughout those years. She was always very
calm, always smiling even after tough drills, and still find something
funny to lift up the mood. It fills my heart with joy to witness her
accomplishments in squash.
Poly Prep and Creek club after school squash program have produced many
nationally ranked and outstanding squash players who have gone on to
play competitively in colleges and universities as well as
professionally. Simon Culver #1 U15 was the only squash junior player
in the country featured in sports illustrator magazine (faces in the
crowd in 2004) University of Birmingham. Katie Giovinazzo #7 in U17
(Princeton University). Evan Besser (Brown University), Jerome
Giovinazzo, Rob Parker, Nicholas Sorrentino, Thomas Rapisarda (Amherst
College), Edwin Goncharukh and Jamal Calander (University of
Rochester). Justin Curtis and Ben Thaler (Connecticut College).
Another best coaching experience I had with Rob Parker who currently
plays in the top three at Amherst college. He started squash in 7th
grade. He is a tremendously talented athlete and a fierce competitor
who quickly improved his national rankings to top 30 in the country,
injured his back during a match and was devastated by the doctor’s
instruction not to play squash for at least a year. He did not lose
hope and came back after a year of rehab, got back in the game again
and made it to the college of his choice. Coaching Rob was the best
experience of my life.
What advice would you have for young players and how they can reach you for advice and tips?
Don’t be obsessed with quick fixes because there are none. High
standard coaching is highly useful if you want to keep improving, but
no coach in the world does that work for you. Hard work is the most
critical thing players should remember; excellent facilities and
equipment are helpful but not essential.
I will be happy to provide advice and tips for players who seek it. Feel free to reach me at my cell # (917)-676-4774 or email me at ali701@hotmail.com.
