Azam keeps Negri ‘tennis factory’ going
NEGRI Sembilan, known as a tennis hub in the country, has quite often churned out good players And dedicated officials like Azam Baba has played a key role for Negri in grassroots development for the past three decades.
Azam carries out a junior development programme with the support of the Negri Sembilan Lawn Tennis Association (NSLTA) and Negri Sembilan Education Department.
The programme, pioneered by Azam, is aimed at creating players through tennis clinics and competitions at school, district and state level.
In addition, the joint committee also organised courses conducted by NSLTA for tennis assistants, coaches and officials at district and state levels.
Mini tounaments at district and state levels are held weekly or monthly for players aged 15 and above. Some of them play in the national circuit.
Courses are also organised for coaches and officials at district and state levels.
Azam’s most memorable moment came when he was awarded the Best Development Coach of the Year 2002 by the National Sports Council.
Azam said: “This programme has been a formula adopted by NSLTA to produce more players.”
He said the equipment for the programme in schools is basic and simple: a ping pong bat, light modified tennis racquet, rubber balls or deflated old tennis balls, badminton net and rafia netting to fence the mini court.
“Through this system, we have managed to produce hundreds of ‘mini tennis’ players.”
He said Negri has generated many top juniors such as Syed Agil Syed Naguib, Abd. Aziz Shazali, Darnadi Jamal, Nazarene Fuzi, Zul Azri Hassan, Asri Hamdan, Abd. Hazli in Davis Cup, Nor Zafira Taufek, Megat Khairul, Maria Fauzana, Fahana Taufek, Qistina Hassan and Nadia Yamina.
“Our latest products are Naufa Siddiq in Davis Cup, Iman Syuhada and Muhd Nor Fakhrul Radzi.
“We also send our players to national junior circuits and national open tournaments,” added Azam.