Aaron seeks new squash pearls in the Orient after discovering a jewel in Wee Wern

Good guidance: Aaron guiding Wee Wern during a tournament at the National Squash Centre in Bukit Jalil.

PETALING JAYA: The emergence of Datuk Nicol David in the 1990s marked the golden era of Penang squash as it started attracting global attention to the sport.

The now-retired Nicol went on to be widely recognised as the best female squash player of all time but Penang was not just about the “Pocket Dynamite” as several other players like the Soyza brothers, Allan and Aaron, also emerged to become professional squash players during that time.

A lack of funding and chance to play abroad didn’t give them the opportunity to widen their horizon further as both retired in their early 20s to focus on coaching.

Elder brother Allan, 48, started as the assistant to then head coach Richard Glanfield and later served as the supremo at the Squash Academy of Penang until 2007 before venturing into other new opportunities but Aaron stayed put and has been the coach at the academy for more than 22 years.

Aaron, 45, took over the job as the chief coach from Allan in 2007 and has continued to lead with commitment and the undying desire to turn Penang Academy into an established centre capable of luring foreign pros to Malaysian shores.

Despite not getting offers to become a coach at the national level or abroad in his early coaching days, Aaron showed his pedigree by guiding Malaysia’s biggest female squash player after Nicol, the Penang-born Low Wee Wern, to rise to world No. 5.

Wee Wern herself is a true-blue Penangite, who was so proud of the island’s colourful heritage and culture that she refused to move to the national training base in Bukit Jalil or the chance to train with Nicol in Amsterdam under Australian coach Liz Irving.

Wee Wern placed trust in Aaron’s coaching philosophies and believed that she can achieve equal success by training at home and proved that by reaching world No. 5 in October 2014.

“It was Wee Wern’s call actually to be based in Penang. She has been training at the academy since her junior days in the late 1990s and believed that she can achieve success by being based there. And she achieved it,” recalled Aaron.

“When I started guiding her in 2003, she was just 13. However, training a full-time professional is a different responsibility altogether but Wee Wern had set her mind to be based here and I supported her.

“I always believed in the trial and error method and in learning something new. That process has never stopped in my coaching career.

Great Korean adventure: Aaron Soyza with Low Wee Wern at the 2014 Incheon Asian Games. — All pix courtesy of Aaron Soyza

“Being based in Penang also helped her as finances were very tight those days and there were quite a few tournaments in Asia itself like the China, Hong Kong, Macau, South Korea and Malaysia Opens that she could play in order to improve her world ranking.

“People started noticing when she became the second player after Nicol to break into the top 10 (in 2012) as she was getting better support.

“She proved her potential by becoming world No. 5 and that achievement actually was proof that with dedication and hard work, such heights can be reached locally.

“I am privileged to be part of Wee Wern’s journey and it’s a pity that she could not fulfil her full potential because of injuries. Multiple surgeries have never really put her back on track.

“Despite that, she has managed to win 12 PSA (Professional Squash Association) titles and that shows her character.”

You’re the future: Aaron, who is the Squash Academy of Penang head coach, instructing M. Nikhileswar (centre) and Ivan Chang Kia You (left) during a training session at the Nicol David International Squash Centre.

Wee Wern, who retried early this year, has taken up an offer as the Philippines head coach and she paid tribute to Aaron’s influence in her career.

“I’m indebted to Aaron for my growth as a player. He was not only a coach but also played the role of a mentor and I would not have had success on the PSA tour if not for him,” said Wee Wern.

“I had so many injuries but Aaron had always stood by me and encouraged me every time I was struggling with injuries and recovering from surgeries.”

Wee Wern’s success had also attracted foreign players, especially from Japan, where current world No. 14 Satomi Watanabe had trained under Aaron from 2011 to 2017.

Others like men’s pro Yujin Ikeda, women’s player Akari Midorikawa and Watanabe’s sister Ayumi, Misaki Kobayashi, Ryosel Kobayashi and Hayate Gunji were the pioneer batch from 2005– 2010 who trained in Penang.

Aaron is also fortunate that his wife Cheryl David, a top junior in Asia during her playing days like her famed sister Nicol, has been the main pillar in helping him strike a balance between his family and coaching duties.

Cheryl, who used to coach part-time at the academy, has been focusing on raising their three young children – Xander David Soyza (nine), Kaylee Yen Soyza (seven) and Leylani Beth Soyza (18 months).

“My family is possibly the main reason that I have not considered taking up any coaching offers outside Penang,” added Aaron.

“Cheryl has been my pillar as she understands the responsibilities of a coach as she has done that before. And she has also been a successful player herself.”

Well set in Penang, Aaron already wants to continue focusing on creating the new batch of players after having groomed top juniors who have graduated to United States Collegiate squash like Ishant Shah Atul Kumar, Tho Wei Yan and R. Dhirren.

Aaron has been continuing his work on the new batch led by M. Nikhileswar, the British Junior Under-11 and Asian Junior Under-13 champion Yek Rui Jean (Under-15) and Kayvern Arthur (Under-12) in his quest to continue the quality production line from the Penang Academy.

Aaron is proof that one doesn’t have to be a highly successful professional player to become a top coach.