Tennis still doing moon walk

The sport of Tennis on the Vincentian stage continues to merely meander in existence without much effort being made to change the dance pattern.{{more}}

And, this line of operation has been just doing the slow grind for the better part of four years now. Since the virtual abandonment of persons from the Anthony Mc Kenzie led executive, the sport is simply winding its way off the stage.

Mc Kenzie though, amidst being left alone to face the music, soloed his way to getting others to relieve him of his duties.

Manfully, Mc Kenzie stayed on the dance floor, despite having to proceed out of time and with his energy sapped from the continuous mental gyration of the sport’s woes. But one would have thought that when Miles Boyea took up the challenge of heading up the administration of tennis in September last year that the tempo would have gone up a notch.

Yes, it may be early days; yes, he may be a greenhorn at the level of national administration, but that does not take away from the fact that tennis remains among the least vibrant sporting disciplines in St Vincent and the Grenadines.

The issues confronting tennis, although not new, have been left unattended for too long, as the sport just sways to the beat of the drums.

Were it not for the few active tennis joints, such as the Triangle and Grassroot set-ups, the sport would have been waltzing to a ballad.

Their sojourns overseas are what is helping to keep some rhythm in the sport.

What then are the real causes of the state of tennis in St Vincent and the Grenadines?

A volley of reasons can be served with accuracy and without faults.

Like other spheres of the Vincentians society, tennis has been gripped by the lack of that will to serve and to do so with fervency. Significant though, is that not many persons are seeing the value of making the sport a viable entity once more. But if the trend is to continue, then we might as well pack up the tennis bags and call it game, set and match.

The benefits that have accrued over the years from tennis are immeasurable: the many students who have gained tennis scholarships and the publicity that St Vincent and the Grenadines has tasted from those who excelled in regional tournaments.

Not to slight the thousands of dollars that have flowed into St Vincent and the Grenadines during the annual hosting of the International Tennis Federation (ITF) Junior Tournament.

Therefore, much is in the offing for the sport and for St Vincent and the Grenadines as a whole.

One cannot help but to call for an end to the inertia which prevails in the executive of the St Vincent and the Grenadines Tennis Association.

At his elevation to the post of president last September, Boyea promised that his executive would have focused on youth developments.

Hence, one would have expected that no effort would have been spared in getting the Junior tournaments pepped and with vigour.

That was not to be, as those which were staged were low-keyed and hardly got past the precincts of the National Tennis Centre.

Whining would not lessen the pain and discomfort experienced by those who care for tennis. Needed is a recharging of the batteries, beginning with the choreographer – Mr Miles Boyea. He must be the bandmaster in getting the sport revived, re-energised and rebranded.

Much has gone by the wayside, but recuperation is still an option.

A strategic plan, including a facelift of the National Tennis Centre, must be high on the agenda. This facility used to be the envy of those in the region, and many were in awe at its décor, general condition and upkeep. But this is not the case after fourteen years of the facility’s existence, as it is now a shadow of itself.

The same can be said of tennis in general.

Let us be optimistic and forward thinking and recharge the fervour in tennis. Let us not have to conclude that tennis is going miles behind.