Coach is bound for Samoa

Cricket

Wairarapa cricket development co-ordinator Sam Curtis is about to confront a new challenge.

Curtis has been selected by New Zealand Cricket and the Samoan Cricket Association to spend six weeks in Samoa with the aim of growing the game there and readily admits it will be a steep learning curve for himself and those he will be working with.

"Obviously, there will be cultural aspects which I have to pick up on and I guess some of the programmes I will be looking to put into place won't have been done before but it shouldn't be a problem. It's just a matter of everybody working together to make a difference."

With Cook Island and Maori in his ancestry, Curtis has always been interested in the development of the Polynesian races in the sport of cricket.

"There is so much natural talent there and the evolvement of the world game means there are versions which they should enjoy, and even potentially dominate at," he said.

The job description for Curtis in Samoa seeks four major outcomes; the upskilling of the SICA development manager to better able to plan, implement and review community cricket programmes to ensure outcomes are met for all programme partners, co-deliver coaching and umpiring courses with SICA development staff to village cricket leaders, provide feedback to staff and SICA about best practice delivery of courses and provide feedback, verbal and written, to SICA's general manager and development manager, on programme delivery and recommendations for on-going delivery of programmes.

Curtis, who leaves for Samoa on Friday, will be doing plenty of travelling over the six weeks, visiting villages such as Leauvaa, Lepa, Afega, Manunu and Falealili and he will be involved with primary school and secondary school cricket in the Upolu district and Apia. He will have coaching sessions with the Samoan national under-19 squad too, also in Apia.