Michael Fiteni... from `down under` to the low lands

Not many people have the guts to pack their bags and cross over to Europe from Australia for good, simply to pursue a sporting career. That is what Michael Fiteni did some five years ago.

The professional squash player, who now holds Maltese citizenship, was sick and tired of commuting between Australia and Europe for short periods to play on the professional circuit.

So he opted to settle in Holland and use its strategic location to travel to most central European cities to compete on the international circuit.

Fate does play a role in shaping a career and Michael can consider himself lucky that he lived some 500 metres away from a squash court. His parents also played squash and therefore this sport ran in his blood.

The proximity to the squash centre meant that Michael could drop in at whatever time he liked to sharpen his skills. In Australia, most squash centres are public and accessible.

Fiteni was born in 1976 to Maltese parents. In the 1980s, squash was very popular in the land down under and this further helped to strengthen Michael`s affinity to the sport.

By the early nineties, most Australians had turned their back on squash as the discipline lost most of its appeal. Still, Australia is the team to beat in squash.

Had it not been squash, it could well have been swimming as the young Aussie was a keen sport enthusiast. He took up swimming lessons and was fast on the track of making the grade before calling it quits as early morning training put him off. However, he attributes his sporting mentality to the educational curriculum which allows ample time for youngsters to engage in sporting activities.

At the tender age of nine, he clinched the Under-11 Victoria title and coaches were already eyeing his progress. Three years later he made it to the final of the Under-13. Being a year younger than the cohort, Fiteni found the going tough, eventually losing the final. But a year later he returned with a vengeance, brushing aside all opposition to claim the squash title.

He was eventually named captain of the Australian junior team which placed a creditable fourth in the World Championships held in New Zealand in 1996. This success convinced Michael to try his luck on the professional circuit. At an age when most teenagers are about to leave secondary school, young Fiteni was trying to overcome jet-lag and competing with the world`s elite.

Commuting between the land down under and various European destinations was starting to take its toll and this is when Michael decided to settle in Europe.

The Dutch were more than happy to have an upcoming professional players on their soil and they were quick to offer him a work permit in view of his blossoming talent.

Breaking into the professional circuit is no mean feat as the season spans on seven months, from September to March. Fiteni`s highest ranking was 62nd but as he took a year`s sabbatical from the hustle and bustle of competitive ties, he slipped down the rankings and is currently just outside the top 100.

Funnily enough, Fiteni stresses that in squash, the presence of a coach next to the player is not that important. The resilience and the mental capacity not to wilt are the crucial factors in ensuring success.

Despite his credentials, he has been left out in the cold by Australia. Given his ranking, Fiteni reckons that he should be an automatic choice for his native country but he has not been selected in the team competing in Manchester at the Commonwealth Games. He now admits that even if Australia had to have a change of heart and invite him on board, he would decline the offer.

I could not help but recall a similar statement made by Simon Gerada, the table-tennis player who was also given the cold shoulder by his country for the Sydney Olympic Games.

Could it be that Australians tend to look down on rising stars with a Maltese surname. It is very difficult to assess the feasibility of this hypothesis but some sort of probability seems to strike home.

Michael Fiteni has now pledged his international future to Malta. He touched base first some four years ago expressing his interest of competing for our country.

The Squash Rackets Association was more than keen to have a professional player in its ranks especially since the backbone of our national team, with the exception of Luke Giacchino, is comprised of athletes who are in their thirties.

Last week, Fiteni competed in the Malta Open to secure a place on the Malta team. Despite his high credentials, the Malta Olympic Committee sticks with its strict selection procedures for non-resident athletes who hold Maltese citizenship.

Fiteni is no exception and he will have to play in other local tournaments to be guaranteed a place on the national team. Although Fiteni is not eligible to compete for Malta at the Commonwealth Games, he is set to head our country`s quest for gold at the GSSE 2003.

Our national teams have always passed the test with flying colours against other small European countries. Gold has become synonymous with the ladies` team and the guys are not that far off as they have always managed to win a medal in the Small Nations Tournament held every two years.

Meanwhile, the players of the national team are following a rigorous training programme in view of their forthcoming assignment at the Commonwealth Games in Manchester. This tough event should serve as the right tonic to pep up our players for the forthcoming Small Nations Tournament to be held in Monaco in September.