With his flight delayed by 15 minutes, his late arrival to
Pochentong Airport had the TFC staff on their toes at Nagaworld Casino, where
we were prepping the location for a little bit of rooftop mini-tennis. Not
knowing if the weather would hold up while we were waiting for him at the casino,
we made sure that we had a backup plan in case of rain. Luckily enough, we were
blessed with dry weather and the show went on atop the roof where Pat Cash took
on 4 or 5 hungry juniors looking to knock a few against the former Wimbledon
Champion. After the mini-tennis and many autographed pictures and white and
black checkered headbands, some of the staff along with select sponsors and
friends of the federation were able to share a few words as well as memories
with Pat over a very nice dinner at Nagaworld.
Monday was a very busy day because we would take Pat on a
tour of a few schools currently running STI programs. As some of you may
already know, many of these schools contain children that possess next to
nothing, and to this Pat can confirm after seeing it firsthand. Many of these
kids play without shoes, and even without clean shirts, but one thing they do
play with that is so rare to find is an unconditional passion for the game. As
Pat moved them from side to side they shuffled back and forth and up and down
atop the dirt of Cambodia, which may have truer bounces than even Roland
Garros! After visiting the school in Koh Krabei we trekked back and across the
Mekong using a ferry. Not sure if it would make it across with 20 people, 5
motos and 10 passenger van we along with Pat were ready to swim! The second
school along the outskirts of Phnom Penh was much of the same - the passion
still there.
Right after we crossed the Mekong on a makeshift ferry!
By 11:30 we were back into the city, and headed towards the
National Training Centre where Pat would have a mini-exhibition practice with
Cambodian Tennis Legend, Yi Sarun. Outfitted in a killing fields to tennis
court t-shirt and what I am pretty sure are shorts from his Davis Cup playing
days in the 70’s, the 69 year old Khmer Rouge survivor showed great poise and
great control for his old age. Able to stay in the rallies with Pat Cash, Yi
Sarun returned ball after ball to all our surprise. Next up, it was the
National Team’s turn to hit a few with the honored guest, who was kind enough
to share some technical advice that only someone who’s been there and done that
could lend. A quick bite to eat during a casual press conference at the
clubhouse of the Cambodian Country Club and we were on our way to the coastal
city of Kep to visit 2 more schools under TFC watch!
Pat Cash with Davis Cup Captain and team!
Patiently waiting for Pat to get there were around 15 young
boys and girls all sporting a respectful but different version of his checkered
black and white headband! It was quite a sight to see. Through some light
sprinkles, Pat and the kids played on until we had to leave for our final
school of the day. The last school on our schedule was Aspeca. The kids made a
welcome gauntlet for the van and though the last light of day was giving way, a
select few played their hearts out against Pat and one another until the dark
consumed vision of the ball. Though we lost the light, the flashes from
pictures being taken revealed big smiles as Pat signed off what he had left of
his photos and various autographed memorabilia.
It was a real blessing to have Pat visit Cambodia. During
his short stay we made sure that he saw a good chunk of how we operate. I hope
we impressed! He definitely expressed interest in returning to the country so
that he may visit the sights and take in a little more of the culture which has
endured so much pain and suffering but has rebounded from those very
atrocities, making it unique, very much like our federation.
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