By taking the sport to Namaqualand, the latest BNP Paribas RCS Rising Star Tennis activation has given the youth a significant boost, according to local district chair Clive de Jongh.
A training clinic was recently held in Springbok, which promoted tennis development in the Northern Cape, the home of former Davis Cup star Jeff Coetzee.
Over 85 learners from schools in Bergsig, Okiep, Springbok, Nababeep, Carousberg and Matjieskloof took part, with Tennis South Africa (TSA) and its partners BNP Paribas and RCS Group donating equipment to help young players prepare for the BNP Paribas RCS Rising Star Tennis series.
"We are starving for this kind of thing, and we very much appreciate TSA, BNP Paribas and RCS for availing their time and effort, and providing us with equipment to start and promote tennis at local schools," said De Jongh, the president of the Namaqualand Tennis Association.
"We are from a community of previously disadvantaged areas, which comes with challenges, and TSA has helped us a lot by giving us rackets, mini-tennis nets and balls."
The successful activation not only gave the youth of Namaqualand a chance to prepare sufficiently for the nationwide Rising Star Tennis campaign, but it also brought local school teachers together, empowering them to continue promoting the sport.
"The Rising Star Tennis competition provides opportunities for kids from poor and rural areas to play at a higher level, and next year we won't be making up the numbers anymore," De Jongh said.
"After this (activation) we are also going to have a meeting with the primary and high schools to elect a democratic structure for school tennis in our district.
"So, we are glad this clinic was held in order to bring all the schools here. The kids are now ready to play."
The BNP Paribas RCS Rising Star Tennis schools’ clinics are among a handful of activations being held around the country in the build-up to the highly anticipated third edition of the nationwide series.
The fourth and final training clinic of the year will be held in Mafikeng, North-West.
The BNP Paribas RCS Rising Star Tennis series has been expanded this season, reaching more children and schools and making a bigger difference through grassroots development as the tournament returns for a highly anticipated third edition.
Again, catering for primary school, high school and wheelchair tennis players, the 2022 series includes over 1000 schools.
District and provincial events are being held until October, and the Finals will be played between 4-6 November in Gauteng.