Oman/GTC combination sends young tennis players on Antigua mission

Two young tennis players from the Grassroot Tennis Club (GTC) — Akeil De Roche and Antonio Cain — were part of the Caribbean Junior Invitational Tennis Tournament last weekend in Antigua.{{more}}

De Roche got into the main draw, having defeated Aiden Fuller of Antigua, but had to withdraw due to injury.

Cain in his first outing, put up a good battle with the number one seed Sergie Calor from Suriname, but lost 1-4, 1-4 He, however, won the Consolation boys title, defeating Aiden Fuller and Justin Marcano also of Antigua in the finals.

Head of the GTC Grant Connell, who travelled with De Roche and Cain, doubling up as coach and manager, said the exposure for them was great and acted as a confidence booster.

Their participation in Antigua was made possible by the efforts of former head coach at GTC – Derron Grant, who is now head coach at Petroleum Development Oman (PDO) recreational centre in Oman.

Grant was able to solicit donations from Bernadus Michels, Vice President PDO – Holland; Stijn Delaure – BelgiuM; Paulo Soares – Portugal, as well as Mr and Mrs Phillip Wayne of New Zealand, along with Mr and Mrs Axel Tijben of Holland and Mr and Mrs David Boeinjinga, also of Holland.

Also chipping in to assist with the GTC cause were Martin Andrea and Dennis Mulder of Holland, Mr and Mrs Anders Kirkerby of Denmark and Lake Arakapis of Australia.

‘”… I really appreciate the efforts of Deron… It shows that although he has reached higher heights, his heart is still at the grassroot and continues to support the growth”, Connell said with gratitude.

Connell indicated that Grant, with his new found expertise, should be back to help prop up the GTC Summer Camp, which will take some of the strain off current head coach Trevor Sam.

Before that though, the GTC is set to send a team to participate in another junior tournament, which is scheduled for St Lucia in July, when the team should comprise three boys and three girls. (RT)