By: Mohamed Abu Conteh
As part of his strategy to ensure there are improved infrastructure facilities across the Country, the President of the Sierra Leone Lawn Tennis Association Kelvin Ezekiel Kellie has completed the Bo City Lawn Tennis Court in the South Province of Sierra Leone.
The Project started from the 13th to the 19th of February 2023 and was managed by the Regional President of the South John Dixon.
In his statement, the Regional President of the South John Dixon said the project is very appreciative of the support the south is receiving from the Sierra Leone Lawn Tennis Association (SLTA) for receiving tennis equipment and refurbishing their tennis court.
He also cites the efforts made by the Sierra Leone Lawn Tennis Association Executive Board in holding an Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Bo City as a good sign of inclusion, noting with the refurbishment of the Tennis Court will help the athletes in the Region to get a better-playing court and be of importance to prepare them ahead of international competitions.
Dixon Marrah the Regional Head Coach for the Southern Region said he is very excited about the improved tennis court that will motivate all tennis players to be more involved in the game, especially the junior players, and these will also them the coaches to prepare the athletes to be in a better position to represent the Country with the required skills before their local and international outings.
The President, Kelvin Ezekiel Kellie expressed that it has always been part of his strategy to ensure a nationwide development of infrastructure to boost tennis across the country. He referred to the Makeni Tennis court as one of the achievements in this regard. He informed all stakeholders Present that the Kabala Tennis Court refurbishment is next in line.
He affirmed that these have always been among his key mandates in improving the infrastructure facilities for the tennis players in the Country, and that been seeing out there with the Tennis players ranked fifth in Africa, noting if there is more funding from the Government and Cooperate bodies the Federation will do more for the sport in the Country.
While on his tour in Makeni, he called for collaborative support from all members of the Association
“It doesn’t mean you should only be an Executive member to make the change needed, all of us should come on board and improve tennis in Sierra Leone”. President Kellie ascribed.
President Kelvin Ezekiel Kellie said the refurbishment of the South Regional Tennis Court cost him (Le 5,549,000) and it is from his pockets in all to help improve playing tennis courts in the Country.
Under his administration and executive members Sierra Leone Tennis Association has transformed the sport both locally and internationally as the athletes have won medals from their respective International outings.
Currently, the under 14yrs team is now in a training camp preparing for the Africa Junior Championships Final taking place In Togo from 11-23 March 2023.
