Grassroot takes all aboard to St Lucia tennis tourney

The Grassroot Tennis Club has thrown down the ramp and let the nation’s top Junior male player Imani King aboard on its journey to the Eastern Caribbean Tennis Championships in St Lucia, from April 14 to 19 at the St Lucia National Tennis Centre.{{more}}

King has an opportunity to expose his skills as he will be part of a 10-member team, which also includes Kamara Williams, Akeil De Roche, Che Connell, Antonio Cain, Rio Connell, Shania Williams, Kanesia Lampkin, Dellisa Fernandez and Josh Mounsey.

Commenting on the inclusion of King, despite not being a member of the Grassroot Tennis Club, Grant Connell, the club’s director, told SEARCHLIGHT last Wednesday “It is great to have him on board with us…The Grassroot Tennis Club is a family; we are embracing of talent. …He is the under-18 champion on this island and I’m sure he will do well…It does not matter which club you are from or any other factor actually…talent should be the common denominator …we are all Vincentians and represent when we go out.”

Connell revealed that the GTC will move to mobilise assistance for King in his quest to advance in the sport.

Zooming in on the St Lucia tournament, Connell added: “This tournament will be used to build our players in preparation for ITF tournaments in the future… It’s quite a hurdle one has to cross to the next level, but in the process we are rebuilding the respect that Vincy tennis once had in the OECS, with De Roche already making his mark in the tournament last year.”

Connell stated that the trip is being made possible thanks to the generosity of those who support the club’s fund-raisers, including one set for this Friday evening, just hours before the team sets sail.

Giving his usual quips, Connell said “We will take our time and grow as the only way is up.”

Reflecting on a statement made some time ago, Connell noted “I have to smile, as there are coaches who were of the mindset and expressed that a US open champion would have been created from St Vincent and the Grenadines by 2015…There is still a year to go, but that is madness at best, given our resources, as we have to creep before we walk.”

The players, along with Connell, will sail out on Saturday morning with Sunsail. They will compete in the Under-10, Under-12, Under-14 and Under-18 categories.

The players, who were all decked out in their SVG General Services T-shirts, were given a courtesy visit last Wednesday, by the owners of the facility Casper Da Silva, his brother Silky Da Silva, along with Casper’s son George Da Silva.

The Da Silvas interacted with the players and wished them the best for their sojourn in St Lucia.

Connell said that without the vision of the Da Silvas, the unearthing of tennis talent, especially from the Byera Hill community, might have been a fleeting illusion of a dreamer. (RT)