Tennis body induct local coaches
Botswana Tennis Association (BTA) President, Oaitse Thipe, says this weekend’s Play Tennis Course was organised for the sole purpose of standardising the level of coaching in the country.
Speaking to Voice Sport this week, Thipe revealed the latest edition, set for 6th to 9th November at the National Tennis Centre in Gaborone, will be the initiative’s third installment.
“We held the other two editions back in August and September respectively. They were successful as we now have the likes of Innocent Tidimane and Thato Holmes, who graduated, and they are already coaching,” he said.
The BTA President explained the International Tennis Federation (ITF) accredited course is a key part of the association’s ambition to produce more licenced local coaches.
“We have established a coaching committee, which is expected to begin its roles by the start of 2021. All coaches who will be certified will pay a certain subscription fee so that we can judge his or her legitimacy. Moreover, we want to regulate coaches in general as we have been receiving so many incidents where individuals claim to be tennis coaches,” highlighted Thipe.
He further explained that to be eligible for a tennis coaching licence, one must have obtained a certificate proving they have completed the Play Tennis Course.
Meanwhile, Voice Sport caught up with two of the beneficiaries of the Play Tennis Course.
18-year-old Silas Charama said taking the course while he is still an active player has helped improve his all-round understanding of the game.
“I was involved in a beginner’s course only to learn. But I found it was beneficial to people like me who are still active players. We are now able to impart the knowledge we acquired to other up and coming players hence improving the standard of tennis in the country,” said the teenager.
For his part, Tidimane, 22, believes taking the course ‘elevated him as a sport person’.
“I have been playing tennis for so many years. This course helped me to understand the sport from the coach’s point of view. This course is not only for aspiring tennis coaches but for anyone who would like to know more about this sport,” concluded the young tennis ace.