German specialist woos Tennis Emirates
AGerman tennis specialist has offered his services to Tennis Emirates (TE) in an attempt to help develop the sport at grassroots level in the UAE.
On his first visit to the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships, Sascha Michailoff has so far been impressed with what he has seen in the country and now wants to pass on his expertise to develop the sport here.
Michailoff, who has a diploma in business informatics, has for the past decade been involved with various tennis activities and associated programmes in his home country. However, on the advice of a friend, he decided to visit the UAE during the Dubai championships.
“While you host one of the best tournaments in the world, I saw that you hardly have any tennis players who can be competitive at the international level. This is a sad situation and can be rectified in an organised and orderly manner. I am willing to offer my vast expertise in this area for the sake of the sport here,” Michailoff told Gulf News .
Best structure
“You possibly have one of the best structures here to ensure the growth of the game. But, at the same time, I notice that the benefits of having such a big tournament don’t filter down to the grassroots.
“Maybe we have lost a few years already, but it is never too late to make a start so that one day we can have UAE players in their home tournament.”
During his brief stay here, Michailoff held initial meetings with Sarah Baker, General Secretary of TE, and Khalid Al Ali, TE Board Member.
“I think both are in favour of taking things forward. Development of tennis at the grassroots is a lifetime commitment and I am willing to give the necessary assistance,” he added.
gulfnews.com