Coach Ruth Aitken. Photo / Getty Images
Silver Ferns coach Ruth Aitken is known for her impeccable planning and preparation.
She ensures her New Zealand sides are prepared for every possible occurrence at a tournament, whether that be a major injury to a star player or even what to do if there is a power blackout at
the stadium. It's all about covering off the "what ifs?", as she calls them.
But even the vigilant Aitken wouldn't have had a plan in place for the scandal that was to mar the opening day of the Ferns' 2011 world championships campaign.
The revelation that Aitken's son Michael was the infamous "Jetstar urinator" is something she, as a mother, was not prepared for - let alone what implications that could have on her side's tournament.
Aitken, who always presents a happy and upbeat front even in the face of the most difficult losses, was a downcast figure when the Herald spoke to her shortly after Monday night's 55-goal blitz of Fiji.
She was visibly upset and deeply embarrassed at the drunken behaviour of her son, which she said is "beyond belief".
The worry now is that all the negative publicity and the inevitable jibes that will come the way of the Silver Ferns squad - even though the actions of Aitken's son on the Jetstar flight are entirely unrelated to the team - will distract the players from what they have come to Singapore to do.
Aitken said she first learned that it was her son involved in the incident on Sunday night - the eve of New Zealand's opening game at the World Championships - and admitted her assistant coach Waimarama Taumaunu and the rest of the Ferns management team had been picking up the slack somewhat as she dealt with her family issue.
But she is adamant now the matter is out in the open her focus is on her "other family" and she won't allow the messy business to distract - or detract - from the Ferns' tournament.
The level of professionalism Aitken showed in fronting the media after her son was outed as the offender is the same professionalism she demands of her players.
