Davis Cupper Phalkun Mam, who will be part of Cambodia’s Asia Oceania Group III Campaign early next year in Vietnam, has been pursuing his coaching credentials as well by completing last Friday a 12-day ITF Level II coaching course conducted by the Lawn Tennis Association of Thailand in Nonthaburi, a suburb of Bangkok. If he succeeds in passing the course, he will be the first ITF Level II certified coach in Cambodia, opening up prospects to strengthen the Kingdom’s coach education programme.

Phalkun was among representatives from Thailand, Laos, Myanmar, India, Bangladesh, Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore attending the course directed by Suresh Menon, who after serving the world’s governing body in different capacities for nearly 21 years, is now acting as a consultant for ITF, working alongside the LTAT in conducting coaching courses for levels I and II.

Suresh Menon, who was ITF Development officer in Asia since 1996 decided to give up his post due to personal reasons earlier this year. He had been involved in several developmental projects in Cambodia including the building of the National Training Center in 2010.

Thailand’s Attapol Rithiwatanapong (Level 2 Certified – Asst. Tutor) and Pracharapol Khamsaman (Asst. Tutor) assisted Suresh Menon in running the course along with Level 3 Certified Coach, Quoc Phong Tran from Vietnam.

“The main difference between ITF Level 1 and 2 courses is the content. Level II focuses on strategy and tactics of the game more in depth as well as importance of the fitness and mental side of the game. It was highly instructive and informative” Phalkun told The Post. “The content I was talking about is more suited to advanced tournament players’’, he added.

Apart from Phalkun, Braen Aneiros, Chea Poev and Long Chomnith are currently Level 1 certified coaches in Cambodia with Franck Deville and Long Samneang, who finished their course three weeks ago likely make the grade soon.