Eswatini set for development boost as ITF and Olympic Solidarity unite
It is a nation which may be lagging behind some of its Southern African counterparts in terms of tennis development, but things are happening in Eswatini.
The ITF has partnered with Olympic Solidarity to undertake work within Eswatini – a country formerly known as Swaziland – with the commission’s Development of National Sports System plan particularly prominent.
Through the initiative, a long-term action plan for at least one sport is introduced so a nation’s basic coaching and related sports structures can be developed and strengthened.
Priority is often given to nations whose sports and training fabric is considered weak, but which has genuine potential for improvement. While Eswatini has been selected for support, tennis has been earmarked as a sport with the required scope for growth.
As such, ITF tutor George Oyoo of Kenya has been dispatched to work on the ground in Eswatini for a set period and consider the entire tennis development landscape throughout the nation.
He will be observing intently and looking at everything from coach education to training structures for performance players before reporting his findings so a long-term plan can be devised and executed.
“Traditionally, Eswatini has been one of the weakest nations across the Southern Africa region in terms of performance,” said Tapiwa Masunga, the ITF’s Development Officer for Southern Africa.
“The intention is to bridge that gap and get Eswatini to the level of other nations in the region. They need a base from which they can work from and grow so they can get stronger players in the performance space.
“The vision would be a future which includes Eswatini having junior, Davis Cup and Billie Jean King Cup teams which play at a good level and are competitive within Africa. We believe this all starts with a solid base of improved coach education and good grassroots structures.”
Within Eswatini, there is already an active Junior Tennis Initiative (JTI). The JTI provides opportunities for children, aged 14 and under, to pick up a racket for the first time and encourages them to play in organised sessions and competitions within schools, the community and tennis venues.
To supplement this, Oyoo is currently running an ITF Play Tennis course, while training camps with players aged 10-and-under and 12-and-under are planned in the coming weeks.
For those unaware, an ITF Play Tennis course offers an introductory-level coaching certification for those looking to work with beginner players – it is viewed as a vital component to positive long-term development.
Such sessions, together with additional workshops with players, parents and coaches, are planned until February 2023 when Oyoo will present his findings before a longer-term plan is initiated.
“I first visited Eswatini in 2019 to conduct an ITF Play Tennis course and various workshops, which is when the Development of National Sports System idea was put together,” added Masunga. “However, all plans were halted due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
“The JTI in Eswatini continued throughout Covid, which was a major positive, but now I am fascinated to hear George’s findings so I can work with the Eswatini National Tennis Association to ensure a brighter future for the game across the nation.”