A local non-profit organisation recently started renovating tennis facilities in Ida’s Valley.
This was according to Federico Coppini, chief executive officer of Tennis World Foundation (TWF). TWF first approached the Ida’s Valley Sports Council about the possibility of renovating the facilities in February 2020, according to Brian Minnis, secretary of the sports council.
The role of the Ida’s Valley Sports Council, at this stage, is managing the sports grounds on behalf of Stellenbosch Municipality, and not a decision-making role, according to Brian Minnis, secretary of the sports council. PHOTO: Alexander Brand
TWF signed a memorandum of understanding with Stellenbosch Municipality after the council approved the development of a tennis “home” for children in the area, according to Stuart Grobbelaar, spokesperson of Stellenbosch Municipality.
“The first phase of the renovation includes the resurfacing of courts, repairing of fences and the refurbishment of the clubhouse,” said Coppini.
The aim behind the development at Ida’s Valley is to create a “home” for children, where they can play and learn, according to Stuart Grobbelaar, spokesperson of Stellenbosch Municipality. Above is Terence Joseph painting the new clubhouse. PHOTO: Alexander Brand
The first phase started mid-October and will be completed at the end of November, according to Coppini. TWF is aiming to have the project operational by early 2022, added Grobbelaar.
School participation
One of TWF’s objectives is the broad introduction of tennis to learners in schools, through their Hello Tennis programme, which is presented at participating schools, according to Grobbelaar. The purpose of this programme is to introduce the game of tennis to children in under-resourced schools that have no tennis programs, according the TWF website.
“[TWF’s] objective is to promote the game as a whole and to identify and support the stars of the future,” he said.
One of TWF’s other programmes, Team Tennis, aims to form and coach school tennis teams, according to Grobbelaar, who added that it focuses on professional coaching for school teams.
The first schools that joined the TWF programmes in 2019 were Weber Gedenk Primary, followed by Ikhaya and Kayamandi Primary.
“Two Ida’s Valley schools joined after the Covid-19 lockdown, when it was possible to play again. We aim to have ten schools on the programme at the end of 2022,” said Coppini.
What is next?
Coppini said he started TWF to try and help the disadvantaged kids in the Stellenbosch area.
The chief executive officer of Tennis World Foundation, Federico Coppini, said he has a vision and goal, which is to change the habits in South African (SA) tennis. “There are lots of amazing players in SA. They only need a different vision and clear goals ‒ different ways to train!” he said. PHOTO: Alexander Brand
TWF has entered a strategic partnership with the national and regional tennis federations, being Tennis South Africa, the Western Cape Tennis Federation and Boland Tennis, said Grobbelaar.
Individuals, (from left to right) Andre Arendse, Waldick Adams, Terence Joseph, Leon Abrahams, Victor van Els and Fortein May, working on the renovations of the clubhouse. PHOTO: Alexander Brand
They will also be investing further into the upgrading of the facility. Their vision is to create a world-class facility for children, according to Coppini.
“We will be consulting with the Ida’s Valley Sports Council and Stellenbosch Municipality on further developments in 2022,” he added.