ITF World Summer 2021 35
DEVELOPMENT
SEYCHELLES
Seychelles is a very small nation – an archipelago of 115
islands – and one which is isolated. As a result, they cannot
and do not host international events, while the associated
costs of staging such tournaments also present a barrier.
However, players from the island do travel. As a nation,
they are very well represented at regional events and
have a strong JTI, with the school side of the programme
particularly active.
In total, there are around 120 kids involved in the JTI
and that is healthy for a country of this size, while the
development of tennis in Seychelles benefits enormously
from government support.
Part of this investment has allowed the Seychelles Tennis
Association to appoint an overseas coach, Nicolaus Leringa
from Tanzania, and he has been working throughout the
nation since March 2018.
When Nicolaus was appointed, the priority was
attracting and retaining players in the 10-18 age category
and that has been achieved, largely through the JTI.
This process has been aided by the Seychelles Tennis
Association having its own facilities – six courts in total –
in the capital city Victoria. These courts were constructed
through ITF financial assistance some years ago and the
positive effects are being felt today.
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COMOROS
Comoros is a relatively new nation in terms of ITF
membership and Federation Comorienne de Tennis does not
have any tennis facilities of its own, while there is only one
private tennis club on the entire island.
Moroni Club has five courts but, in short, they are not
playable, although the national association is still doing
what it can to pursue tennis development and a JTI has
been launched.
The JTI is rolled out anywhere it can – on playgrounds
or wherever is suitable – and currently it includes just over
100 kids. Comoros is also a nation which regularly attends
the East Africa Junior Tennis Championship, so its players do
travel and compete overseas.
The national association, meanwhile, has received a grant
of $25,000 through the ITF Facilities Grant Programme
to renovate an existing facility at the Moroni Club. We
are currently sourcing people to do the work which,
when completed, will be a major step forward for tennis
development in Comoros.
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There is a
successful JTI
in opera on
in Tanzania
Nahimana
is flying
the flag for
East Africa
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