Venezuela widens Grant's coaching horizons

Marty Grant's already colourful softball career has taken another exotic twist after being named last week as assistant coach of the Venezuelan women's team.

Nelson's former world champion Black Sox pitcher will assist Canadian-born head coach Kim Wright as they prepare Venezuela for next month's South American Games in Colombia, the world championships in Caracas, Venezuela in June and the Central American and Caribbean Games in Puerto Rico in July.

Having missed out to incumbent Eddie Kohlhase on the head coaching job with the Black Sox last December, Grant is now looking to gain as much coaching experience as he can. Wright's approach to Grant is the next important step in that process.

"I was advised by the national body [Softball New Zealand] that I needed a bit more experience," said Grant, who still has designs on the Black Sox job at some stage further down the track.

Grant had met Wright at a coaching course in the United States nine years ago, with their ensuing professional relationship culminating in last week's appointment.

The 42-year-old Grant has now officially retired from international softball as a player, having won three world championship rings from five campaigns.

Despite his disappointment at missing the Black Sox job, his expanding coaching portfolio now includes Nelson College, the Nelson representative men's team and the Southern Pride national league team for the past two years.

He has also had some experience of coaching women after spending two years as the White Sox pitching coach under Mike Walsh from 2000 to 2002.

"I must admit that I was a bit raw when it comes to coaching at that level and coaching women, but I've learned quite a bit since then. That was eight years ago."

Grant's world-championship experience was also a big selling point for Wright.

"One of the things that Kim was aware of was my experience in world-championship campaigns. I'm trying to use that to help these girls prepare and help them prepare as the [world-championship] hosts, which is going to put added pressure on them – and teach them about winning, really."

He was in Venezuela a week ago to meet the team and the officials. He also met Venezuela's president, Hugo Chavez, who is a passionate softball fan.

According to Grant, that will be beneficial in terms of the team's funding.

Grant said he didn't envisage any language problems.

"I know a little bit of Spanish, actually, after living in Texas for a season. I've also lived in Arizona, and learned a bit of Spanish there.

"We've got five girls in the team who went to university in North America, so they're English-speaking."

Venezuela are the top-ranked South American women's team, and finished fifth at the last Olympic Games, although Grant expects both Cuba and Argentina to lay the strongest claims to the Venezuelans' South American crown.

With the team's world championship build up also involving two weeks in the United States, Grant said it was an exciting time for him. "I've never been to that part of the world [South America] before, so that's one of the things that attracted me to it.

"Softball's a big sport over there. Baseball, softball and volleyball are the main sports, so it'll actually be unusual being in a country where the sport that I play is to the forefront, which is a treat.

"They're not rugby fans and they're not football fans – they're softball and baseball fans.

"My understanding is they're the first ever Venezuelan sports team to make it to an Olympics in Beijing, so [Chavez] was very proud of that fact and has supported them because of it."

- © Fairfax NZ News