Local appointed national junior badminton coach
Schaap was appointed by the BSA board following a general assembly meeting on September 8.
Eastern Gauteng Badminton Association’s Dillan Schaap has been appointed as Badminton South Africa’s (BSA) new national junior coach.
According to BSA president Gretha Prinsloo, two candidates were shortlisted for the job, but Schaap’s CV and immense contribution to badminton development in the country stood out.
“Dillan has a passion for badminton coaching and especially in junior badminton, the lifeblood of any sport.
“He started his badminton academy with his own funding and it had a knock-off academy within a few months in Pretoria. He also conducted an entry-level coaching course, funding himself.
“He is one of seven coaches with a Badminton World Federation (BWF) level one badminton coaching certificate in South Africa. He will be nominated to attend the level two course in December in Benoni. Dillan is at present a member of our high-performance squad,” Prinsloo said.
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Speaking to the City Times, Schaap said he was honoured and will serve BSA with distinction.
“I’ve served BSA with fairness, support and dignity as a player. Being given this role is exciting,” he said.
The Boksburg resident has been a member of BSA since 2009. He represented the country in the junior and senior ranks between 2011 and 2019.
With a keen interest in development, the 22-year-old began coaching in 2018. He had been a junior coach at the Benoni training centre since 2020. Last year he joined the Wanderers Badminton Club in Illovo as a development coach.
In June, he launched his academy, ShuttleStars Badminton Academy, to get provincial badminton on the map.
“I believe there is a common vision shared at BSA and I’m proud to be part of it. I believe with the right backing, time and guidance, we can continue with developing strong young players both on the court and in their personal lives.”
In his new role, his tasks include coaching and training junior players from U11 to U19. He will attend all junior regional, provincial and national tournaments to scout for the best talent to represent the country in continental and global competitions.
“My greatest responsibility is to develop young athletes of good character and skills for badminton and in their efforts to reach their goals in their lives.
“My vision is to give players equal opportunities to achieve their full potential. We must have players who will believe in the process and their responsibilities as well,” Schaap stated.
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