NBL1 West 2023: Massive early off-season win for South West Slammers, as electric import Buay Tuach re-signs

South West Slammers men’s coach Shane Goff had the best possible start to celebrating AFL grand final day on Saturday. Prior to his festivities getting under way, the Slammers boss received a text message from club official Julieann Bissaker, confirming import Buay Tuach had re-signed with the club for 2024. While any signing is special, for Goff, this was more personal. During Tuach’s first season with the club in 2021, the Slammers coach invited him to live with Goff’s family. During the off-season, with club funds for an import salary virtually non-existent, Goff went out into the community cap in hand and raised the money so Tuach could come back and play a second season. In their two seasons together, player and coach have formed not only a quality working relationship, but lifelong friendship off the court. “For him to put his faith in me, the club and want to come back? It’s very humbling for myself,” Goff said. “For the club, it speaks volumes that players of this calibre can see what the future is — and that they want to see success for our local players and the team. “That’s just the type of human being Buay is. “I can tell you, he turned down offers from quite a few other clubs. Not just in our NBL1 West league, but also Eastern States clubs and even European offers — all so he is fresh and ready to play for us right at the beginning of the season. “As a coach, I’m ecstatic, and so is everyone I’ve spoken to at the club about it.” Goff said the Slammers would be starting pre-season training in the not-too-distant future, and have been proactive in re-signing their South West talent.