Schoolchildren enjoy the benefit of not only receiving free tennis coaching but also the opportunity to experience an international tennis event, at the Tennis Academy of Excellence.
The academy based at the tennis courts at Kenworthy Circle, Blairgowrie, hosts Vuleka SSB High School, Vuleka Randburg and Saint Peter’s Child Care for lessons every week.
In February, the academy sent a handful of Vuleka SSB High School children to the Davis Cup in Irene, for the South Africa versus Estonia matches in February, and will do so again for the games against Slovenia from 7–9 April, if it can find transport.
“The tennis benefits the learners more than just in a physical sense,” said Vuleka SSB headmistress, Lizbé Pieters. “Going to an international tennis event like the Davis Cup opens the learners up to a much bigger world than what they merely see at school.”
Founders of the academy, Susan Elder, her husband Rob and son James, said when they started coaching, they would ask their students to pay, but started inviting children from these schools to come for free in 2015.
“The children like that someone is taking the time to teach them something,” Rob said. “They have so much fun, and they learn a skill that one day they can either compete with or earn a living from passing it on.”
Chairperson of the Blairgowrie Community Association, Jed Kemery said it was lovely to see the courts full again, after a low period in recent years, and encouraged the community to come forward and provide transport so the children can go watch their heroes play again.
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Details: Tennis Academy of Excellence robsusantennis@gmail.com; 079 317 3334.
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