Tennis centre a game changer
International Tennis Federation (ITF) President David Haggerty plays a forehand shot at the Nairobi Club on April 25, 2018 during a tour of tennis facilities. PHOTO | CHRIS OMOLLO |
What you need to know:
- Haggerty, is scheduled to officially open the ITF East Africa High Performance Centre in Upperhill, Nairobi on Thursday.
- This is the first time an ITF president is touring Kenya since the game was launched in the country in 1922.
Having a fully-fledged tennis centre in Kenya will help transform the game for the better in the region, the International Tennis Federation (ITF) president David Haggerty said on Wednesday.
Haggerty said the completion of the Tennis Kenya-built centre that will cost an estimated Sh1 billion at the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani will be the best thing to happen to Kenyan tennis.
The centre will be built on 10 acres of land provided by the government at Kasarani and will include an administration block, 24 courts with floodlights and hostels.
Haggerty was speaking after meeting officials from Tennis Kenya and Confederation of Africa Tennis at the Nairobi Club.
Haggerty, who is on a two-day tour of Kenya, also met young players who are attending training at the ITF East Africa High Performance Centre and Tennis Kenya camp, later paid a courtesy call on Sports cabinet secretary Rashid Echesa.
FIRST TIME
Haggerty later visited Kasarani to oversee the ground breaking of the Tennis Kenya Centre project that will be built in several phases spread over five years.
Haggerty, is scheduled to officially open the ITF East Africa High Performance Centre in Upperhill, Nairobi on Thursday.
Junior Tennis Initiative player Grace Mwambua plays a forehand shot watched by International Tennis Federation President David Haggerty (third right), Confederation of African Tennis President Tarak Cherif (fourth right) and Tennis Kenya President James Kenani (second right) during a tour of tennis facilities at Nairobi Club on April 25, 2018. The club hosts the ITF East Africa High Performance Centre. PHOTO | CHRIS OMOLLO |
This is the first time an ITF president is touring Kenya since the game was launched in the country in 1922.
Haggerty noted that some of the world’s top tennis players emerged from public facilities hence developing one in Kenya will be the turning point of the game’s development.
'HOME OF TENNIS'
“Kenya needs a home of tennis which will have the inclusive environment and a public facility where anyone can come play and train,” said Haggerty adding that ITF will help Tennis Kenya with funds to see that the facility at Kasarani is completed.
“Kenya has good players but we want to make it inclusive where athletes choose tennis as sport as opposed others sports,” said Haggerty, adding that the ground breaking at Kasarani means a lot not only to Kenya but ITF.
Haggerty disclosed the launch a Transition Tour in the region from next year to help in the growth of the game.
