BTA has introduced a junior tennis programme that targets Under-10, 12 and 14 players. The programme is active in Gaborone, Molepolole, Maun, Francistown, Mahalapye, Masunga, Selebi-Phikwe, Orapa and Serowe under Re Ba Bona Ha. BTA president, Oatsi Thipe told Mmegi Sport that the programme is made possible by coaches that were trained last year. In 2022, BTA held two coaching courses, the International Tennis Federation (ITF) level one and play and stay courses. The ITF tennis play and stay aims to promote tennis as easy, fun and healthy and to ensure all starter players can serve, rally and score from their first lesson. Fundamental to the campaign is the use of slower balls by coaches working with starter players, ensuring that their first experience of tennis is a positive one, where players are able play the game. “We have an agreement with the coach that we provide them with equipment and they visit schools, introduce the programme and conduct the training at clubs. The reaction has been positive thus far,” he said. Thipe said they intend to invite more teachers to other ITF training courses, so that they can run programmes in schools.
Thipe said in addition to the junior tennis initiative programme, there are some clubs that rung their own development programmes at Gaborone Club, Maun BMC Club, Orapa Club and Francistown Club. He said the plan is to increase participation in tennis at schools and clubs from five to 14 years around the country. Thipe added that it is an opportunity for the children to be introduced to a tournament set up at a tender age. When asked how the absence of school sport has affected tennis, Thipe said BTA programmes run through the year by full time coaches, whose payees are parents and clubs. “School sports were run only during winter and the rest of the term there was nothing. Over the weekend we had 80 players in Serowe. The players were from Tswapong region, Palapye, Maun, Orapa, Francistown and Gaborone playing the Re Ba Bona Ha tournament,” he said. Thipe said the next edition of the Re Ba Bona Ha tournament would be in Francistown this month. He said equipment remains a challenge because the intention is to reach other areas such as Kgalagadi and Gantsi. “We are reaching out to the private sector to help us sponsor these programmes of coaches going to schools to identify talent. Chobe Holdings has assisted to run the programme in Maun,” Thipe said.
