ITF Calls for More Aggressive Tennis Development Strategy - Tanzania requires a more aggressive tennis development strategy if the country is to realize the dream of becoming a continental tennis powerhouse, the International Tennis Federation (ITF) has affirmed. Thierry Ntwali, the visiting ITF Development Officer for East African Tennis Zone said in Dar es Salaam on Wednesday that the building of a strong association was a prerequisite if any viable development was to be achieved. He was speaking on Day I of his visit during a meeting with the Coordinator of the Junior Tennis Initiative Programme (JTI) and local coach Salum Mvita, while assessing the progress of the programme.
Ntwali noted that the country needed to focus majorly on the JTI junior tennis outreach programme, saying support from all quarters would go a long way into escalating the already increasing talent pool.
The development officer arrived on Tuesday for a four-day tour of Tanzania's tennis development initiatives.
At the end of his tour, he is expected to earmark two junior athletes aged between 10 and 12, who will benefit from a full sponsorship package from ITF that will cover education and training on the sport of tennis.
The lucky athletes will join the East African Tennis Development Centre due to open this September in the Burundian Capital Bujumbura.
An estimated 2,000 junior players have taken up the sport of tennis in schools and clubs under the JTI project mostly in Arusha and Dar es Salaam regions.
Although the local association, TTA looks keen to reach other regions, the progress is notably at snail's pace mostly due to shortage of funds.
The association depends largely on private sponsorship for the many development projects it has initiated. He said: "Being a vast country, Tanzania must have a huge talent pool.
If we all focus on the JTI, and introduce more tennis activities in schools, the number would increase considerably, a situation that would make it possible for Tanzania to enjoy a good representation at both regional and continental level."
On his part, Coordinator Mvita reiterated that the world tennis body needed to ensure tennis equipment in balls and racquets was made available at all time along-side support in facility improvement.
Mvita said: "The coordinator of the programme must be well facilitated to carry out the programme.
We however need a constant supply of equipment while at the same time support to coaches education and upgrading.
Paul John
Tanzania Daily News/19/05/2011
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