The President of Tennis Foundation Ghana - Roger Crawford outlined the events the foundation undertook in the first quarter of the year.
Read on for the full statement:I would like to share with you what we have been doing for the first quarter of 2021.
Despite the challenges of COVID19, we have been working behind the scenes to make sure that none of our programs for 2021 are cancelled.
In January, through our Second Serve Tennis Shop, Tennis Foundation Ghana donated 10,000GHS to the Gender and Equity Committee of the Ghana Tennis Federation as our contribution towards the organizing and promotion of a 5 series Women's Challenger tournament. This collaboration was necessary to help identify women who could be part of a team representing Ghana in the Billie Jean King Cup next month in Vilnius, Lithuania.
Thanks to the 5 series tournament, a revival of women's tennis in Ghana has begun. We are so proud to have led the way to showcase women's tennis.
Most of the children we serve are back in school, and will benefit from additional academic support outside of the classroom. To this end, we are collaborating with Child Online Africa and Women in Sports Network (WISNET) to engage private tutors.
In March, we spent 47,000GHS to resurface all 4 courts and renovate the players' lounge at the National Tennis Center. We would be remiss if we do not acknowledge the support of the Accra Social Tennis Club and the Amoako Boafo Foundation in undertaking these projects. We are most grateful.
In April, we hosted our annual ITF Junior World Tour Event. This year, we had players from 46 Countries. For the first time, we organized Regional Tournaments in Ghana and brought the winners to Accra where they competed amongst themselves. The eventual winner earned a place in the main draw of the ITF Junior World Tour Event. I am so proud of our team and the opportunity we gave these kids who otherwise had no chance of playing at the international level. Cyrus Amanguri from Navrongo by way of Kumasi was the winner of that single coveted spot.
During the two-week event, a player and coach tested positive for Covid. We quickly utilized our contact tracing data that we collected daily at the entrance to the Tennis Center. We followed the ITF and Ghana Health Service guidance and implemented their protocols, preventing any further infections. I am so proud of our Team under the leadership of Oscar Nyanyofio.
With Covid travel requirements often needing timely PCR testing, we teamed up with the Airport Clinic, a Ghana Health Service approved testing laboratory to take samples on site at the Tennis Center. Test results were available within 6 hours.
Special thanks to our Business Development Director, Catherine Sowu, who handled our dealings with all our Embassies across the world, as well as the Ghana Immigration Service, to ensure that all players who were accepted to play in Ghana could travel smoothly into the country.
The Ghana Tennis Federation made its minibus available to help shuttle players and coaches from our official tournament hotels— the Accra City Hotel and the Coconut Grove Hotel. We are incredibly grateful for this support and collaboration.
Upon the advice of former Chairman Eddie Annan and others, unfortunately, we will not be hosting the Hall of Fame induction of the Class of 2021 this year. We are being extra cautious because most of our honorees may be susceptible to Covid and we would not want to put them in harms way. Hopefully, 2022 will be a better year for us to host the Hall of Fame Ceremony.
Our Second Serve Tennis Shop is doing well. In the 6 months since its Grand Opening, we have filled the great need for affordable tennis equipment in Ghana. We can see the difference that our pre-owned equipment and apparel is making in the lives of our players, adults and teens alike. Furthermore, we have added accounts with even more major tennis brand manufacturers to provide brand new tennis equipment and apparel as well.
We continue to receive generous donations of equipment, apparel, and shoes. Most of these items are sold in our Second Serve Tennis Shop, whose proceeds go directly back into the Foundation. We allocate the remainder of the donated items to outfit the underserved community in need of appropriate tennis attire. We are so grateful to The Tennis Warehouse for their donations.
With an eye towards national outreach, we invited coaches from all over the country to join us in a sales meeting in Accra. We recognize that these coaches are at the frontlines of the tennis equipment and apparel sales business regionally. Therefore, teaching them to be good salespeople will strengthen our presence in those markets. Furthermore, we are in negotiations for an outlet in the Volta Regional capital of Ho. We are also working on outlets in Tarkwa and Tamale.
I am grateful beyond words to my Lifetime Tennis Family for all their support. Our heartfelt appreciation goes to the Shrock family—Anne, Ray, Grace and Matt—for their unparalleled contributions.
I am heavily indebted to my entire team who continue to sacrifice so that our vision becomes reality— Micheal Asianowah and Kofi Owusu Afriyie for their leadership in the operations of Second Serve Tennis Shop, with their team of Roberta and Suzie Okyne, Dennis Somuah and Bernard Mensah.
We continue to enjoy the services of Abubakar Yakubu Lea. Special thanks to Gabriel Amoakoh who has stepped up from being our Media Liaison to take on the responsibilities of Operations Director.
We look forward to a second quarter of further growth and advancements. Wishing you all good health and safety.
Sincerely,
Roger Crawford | President
