EP No 1 ready to pick off maiden Madibaz Open squash title

EP No 1 Dean Venter will chase another title when he competes in the Madibaz Open squash tournament, sponsored by Maya Thermal Solutions, this weekend.

 Eastern Province’s top-ranked squash player Dean Venter is ready to finally tick off the Madibaz Open title from his to-do list this weekend.

The annual three-day tournament, sponsored by Maya Thermal Solutions, represents more than just another stop on the calendar for the talented 22-year-old.

It is an opportunity to capture a title that has previously eluded him and showing that his remarkable progress over the past year is no fluke.

“This is definitely a tournament I would like to win,” he said earlier this week, pointing at the fact that he is yet to make the final in any of his attempts.

“I’ve had many good wins here but, unfortunately, always narrowly missed out.”

It goes without saying that his self-belief is at an all-time high after his purple patch of late.

“I’m super confident given my form and recent tournament outcomes. I feel strong and ready,” he said.

From battling to break into South Africa’s top 15, his strong run has catapulted him to his current spot of number eight.

Besides several standout victories on the national stage, he captured his first PSA Satellite title in the Assore Series in Johannesburg in February.

On Monday, he won his second EP Closed title on the trot and he was also crowned Londt Park Open champion earlier this year.

Venter explained that EP teammate Gerard Mitchell’s return to the Friendly City had been the spark he needed to light up his game.

“He came back to Gqeberha after studying and playing out of town and showed me how much higher the levels outside the province were.”

That lesson translated into six beatings in a row, at which point Venter promised himself that he would not lose again.

“I started working harder than ever and made sure every base of my game was covered.”

That mentality soon translated into results.

Last year’s Growthpoint interprovincial in GQ, where he defeated former national champion JP Brits, was defining. He even described it as a “dream moment”.

The national U23 and PSA triumphs followed and these achievements fuelled even greater ambitions.

“The last 12 months have been a dream,” Venter, admitting that his first PSA title motivated him to chase more, said.

His aim is to win the regional playoff scheduled from June 19 to 21 to qualify for the nationals (top eight) in Cape Town this August.

“After that, it’s PSA all the way.”

However, first things first, which means his full focus is on the Madibaz event that takes place at Mandela University’s North Campus from Friday to Sunday.

Among the other players expected to challenge for honours are Thomas Southway and James Terblanche, both of whom have impressed on the local circuit recently.

Southway finished fourth in the EP Closed while the latter collected the notable scalp of Jason le Roux, who heads the Madibaz team’s challenge in the EP first league and will be among his rivals over the coming days.

“They’ve all had great wins and tournament successes,” Venter noted.

“We all have strengths and weaknesses and the idea is to minimise weaknesses and maximise strengths on game day. That’s my plan.”