Race against time for SVGTA

The Executive of the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Tennis Association(SVGTA) is in search of EC$40,000 to host the ITF Junior Tournament here in August, but the association’s President Anthony Mc Kenzie is confident this will be realized.{{more}}

Mc Kenzie’s confidence came at a press briefing last week Thursday at the Grass Roots Tennis facility at Murray’s Road, as the SVGTA sought to garner financial support from prospective sponsors.

“The tournament will happen. We will try our best in a timely manner,” Mc Kenzie stated.

He disclosed that he and his Executive have until the first week in July to raise the funds.

The Tennis boss said that most of the funds are needed for the hosting of officials as the tournament requires a top class cadre of personnel to oversee it.

This quest for funds came after telecommunications company, Digicel, did not renew their three year sponsorship deal with the SVGTA.

Mc Kenzie pointed to the international impact the tournament has had on the country, with the economic spin offs gained form the previous tournaments.

Last year, 15 countries with 121 entries participated in the tournament.

The man who was at the helm of the SVGTA when the tournament was successfully negotiated to be hosted here, Grant Connell, in his presentation, stated that staging of such a tournament on these shores transcends all other barriers mounted.

He called on all to ensure that St. Vincent and the Grenadines does not lose the tournament, as others in the region are waiting in the wings to gulp it up.

Connell stepped up to the plate and was the first to make a pledge on behalf of the Grassroots organization, as he committed to provide five percent of the cost, which amounts to $2,000.

It is now left to Mc Kenzie and his Executive to rally the corporate sector here to find the short fall and save the tournament.(RT)