Up and coming player Nigel Dunkerley, 30, is being sponsored yet again for another year by European Pilot Academy.

Dunkerley (photo), who has recently broke the top 5 in the National League rankings, will be eligible for a call up by the national coach for team training for the European Small Nations tournament being held later this year.

Dunkerley has only been playing squash at a competitive level for just over three years has made remarkable improvement since and now is expected to take part for the first time this year in the Malta Open 2008. He is expected to play well and established adversaries ?local and foreign ?within the ever growing squash community.

Dunkerley said “I was never expecting to make the higher level of squash so soon, and even though I have the toughest of local squash players ahead this year in the leagues and in the Open, I am completely determined to reach my objectives and make a lasting impression on the competitors taking part. Probably this will be my toughest year physically and mentally. My current training plan set in motion this year has an objective to peak by 2011.?

The European Pilot Academy, established in Malta for more than 15 years, is Malta’s first recognised flight academy training local and foreign pilots up to commercial level. The company has recently committed itself to support sport and not only sponsors Dunkerley but also a top Futsal Team.

European Pilot Academy managing director Capt. Ray Zarb was glad to be offering this sponsorship to Nigel “this agreement reflects the belief that our company has in sports and education, which are becoming two of European Pilot Academy’s fundamental social commitments,?he said.

Dunkerley said it was now possible for him to train more regularly and take part in many more tournaments both locally and especially overseas, thanks to the sponsorship. “Normally, I was only in a position to take part in four local tournaments and maybe one international event per year. This is simply because of the huge expenses involved. Thanks to this sponsorship, I’ll now be able to increase my participation.

Paul Lake, personal coach to Dunkerley and head coach at the Malta Squash Academy commented “Nigel has all the credentials to become a very good player. Honesty, maximum effort and never say die performances are a part of his everyday approach to squash. He understands the values of hard work and is a very astute pupil. To progress even further Nigel now needs to be playing more competitive matches abroad against good standard European opponents and continually testing himself against the best here in Malta.?

This year Nigel will be concentrating on two major objectives; first, constant improvement in his all round ability, and second, as a result of this, making the grade to be chosen for national team training. “It is our hope that Nigel will continue to improve his standard and also his ranking in the near future to be able to secure a regular place in the national team which is shortly going to be in need of replacing the long established and successful current members. We hope there will be other companies who will follow the footsteps of European Pilot Academy to offer sponsorships for other budding squash players,” said National Squash Coaches Ivan Balzan and Steve Rizzo.