The third edition of the BNP Paribas RCS Rising Star tennis programme will be expanded to high schools and wheelchair tennis this year.
Tennis South Africa (TSA) CEO Andre Homan announced this at the launch of the 2022 edition of the programme at Baikagetse Primary School in Daveyton on April 20.
“Year three will be even bigger and more comprehensive than the previous two. We aim to have 1 200 schools taking part, 5 000 learners will play tennis and 24 schools from previously disadvantaged areas will receive kit and equipment,” Homan said.
He announced this year they will focus on addressing challenges of shortage of resources by including many activations across the country.
“There will also be infrastructure development, with schools benefitting from the upgrading of facilities with a focus on Namakwa, Mafikeng, Ehlanzeni and Central Karoo, where tennis equipment will be donated to schools in these communities to help them prepare for the series.”
The programme was introduced in 2019 to grow tennis through grassroots development by taking the game to the youth around the country, including disadvantaged communities.
It launched with 2 000 children from 361 primary schools taking part, with 40% coming from previously disadvantaged communities.
After a year hiatus in 2020 because of lockdown, the programme returned last year with 3 000 children from 797 primary schools.
BNP Paribas’ involvement in tennis dates back to 50 years and sponsors several tournaments on the ATP and WTA tours. The company’s South Africa CEO, Kieran Fahy, explained they chose to support tennis because of the grassroots development commitment.
“Tennis has evolved in South Africa with our partnership with RCS and TSA through the Rising Star programme to increase participation across all of society. And to invest and partner with schools to roll out infrastructure and provide equipment where it’s most needed to allow schools from previously disadvantaged communities to compete in a way that gives them a chance to be successful,” Fahy said.
He added this aligns with BNP Paribas’ global ambition to develop champions of the future.
“In several countries, we sponsor players we see as the talents of tomorrow at a junior level. Through the RCS programme, we are trying to achieve the same thing.
“We encourage participation, identify the talent, provide coaching and facilities and hopefully that increases participation and ensure tennis becomes the mainstream and successful sport.”
RCS CEO Regan Adams explained this year they aim to increase participation in previously disadvantaged communities.
“We started this programme with 14% participation from previously disadvantaged areas and schools. This year we are aiming to take it up to 50%,” he said.
Wheelchair tennis sensation and the programme ambassador Kgothatso Montjane commended the programme for helping grow tennis in disadvantaged areas.
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“Their vision resonates with me. For someone who comes from a previously disadvantaged area trying to make it in a sport like tennis, I didn’t know what I was involved in. But as I grew into the sport realising what it was, I asked myself why we had nothing like this where we come from.
“Seeing BNP Paribas and RCS stepping up to make sure we don’t have lots of athletes like myself who come from areas with no facilities, they are providing children with these opportunities so that they can start spotting those champions from a young age,” Montjane said.
TSA’s grassroots development
Homan revealed TSA has created development centres in strategic areas across the country and are looking at creating more in all provinces.
“We have created four development centres across South Africa in strategic areas – Soweto, Atteridgeville, Cape Town and Durban. We provide facilities, coaching and tournament opportunities.
“We are looking at establishing development centres in each of the provinces within the next two years. There’s already good progress being made in Mafikeng and Ekurhuleni and our team is also working hard in rural areas.”
He added that grassroots development is the foundation of tennis and hopes these centres will produce talented players.
“It’s critical to focus on grassroots level and hopefully from these centres we get talented players to include in our high-performance programme so they could eventually become world beaters and assist our Davis Cup team and feature in the grand slams.”
Baikagetse Primary School
TSA, BNP Paribas, RCS and several stakeholders from government also handed over a newly revamped tennis court to Baikagetse Primary.
TSA upgraded the facility as the school had struggled to grow the sport because of a lack of proper facilities and resources.
The school introduced tennis to its programme in 2019 and took part in the first edition of the Rising Star programme, where they finished sixth in the Ekurhuleni leg.
“They had no tennis facilities but because of their love for tennis, they improvised. They used bins and ropes to make a net post,” acclaimed sportscaster and MC Carol Tshabalala said.
Principal Stephen Mothekge lauded the Rising Star programme for its commitment to growing tennis in townships.
“The opening of the tennis court is indeed an investment. The learners are going to enjoy themselves. The Baikagetse and Moshoeshoe primary schools will ensure schools come here and take part,” he said.
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