Tennis head wants to mend bridges

Newly elected President of the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Tennis Association (SVGTA), Anthony McKenzie, wants to “mend bridges”, severely damaged by the recent internal problems in the Executive and the general progress of the sport of Tennis in here.{{more}}

McKenzie was called to do the salvaging job June 23, following a unanimous decision to replace former President Anthony Boyea.

A job McKenzie sees as challenging: “A lot of damage has been done to the image and integrity of Tennis – and by extension to the many children and adults who enjoy the sport both recreationally and competitively”.

“We are looking to repair the dignity of the sport and we realize that no one will support Tennis unless the Executive and the Tennis fraternity first help to correct the stagnant state of the sport and the crippling debt of the SVGTA”, McKenzie told SEARCHLIGHT in a candid interview last Tuesday.

“It is hard to move forward with an inherited debt of EC$150,000 and ongoing monthly operational costs. In addition, vital organisational items have yet to be handed over. More importantly, we need to consider the children and implications of not having Tennis programmes in SVG”, McKenzie revealed.

“It is no sense to have the juniors practising and taking Tennis lessons, and have no competitions for them, as it affects their rankings for regional tournaments”, Mc Kenzie said.

“Tennis can provide scholarships for children pursuing higher education. It keeps them healthy and provides a relatively safe environment to build life-long friendships”, the new Tennis boss confirmed.

“It is a challenge which requires a lot of time and commitment from everyone – and it is all voluntary – but I am surrounded with a team of professionals who believe we can get the job done,” McKenzie stated with some optimism.

He pointed out that the reconfigured Executive, in addition to other outside volunteers, has been working tirelessly in a effort to put the sport back on an even keel.

While Mc Kenzie took over from Boyea, former Treasurer Lincoln Caine was replaced by Kim Gun Munro, and Lorna Edwards was confirmed in the position of First Vice President at last month’s extraordinary meeting.

“I have personally asked that all Executive members and volunteers of the SVGTA to conform to a high level of professional conduct and ethics,” stated McKenzie.

“The sport has lost many sponsors over the past few years and regaining the public’s confidence is a high priority for the Executive. There is an urgent need for National Junior and Senior Tennis tournaments in SVG- which have been missing for a long period”, he added.

The Executive has ensured both children and adults that there will be tournaments in the near future- as well as improving playing conditions at the National Tennis Centre in Villa.

McKenzie was pleased with the recent completion of the Digicel Primary Schools Programme which introduced Tennis to hundreds of children in rural areas in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

“With continued sponsorship, the programme may be expanded in the future to introduce more children to Tennis”, Mc Kenzie projected.

McKenzie also thanked the efforts of Coach Peter Nanton for a job well done as the National Coordinator of the programme – as well as the many coaches that participated.

Non-committal about any long-term plans, a philosophical Mc Kenzie said: “at the moment, we are in crisis mode with the existing debt and operational costs, but we are hoping our small steps forward will become giant strides in the future. We all need to move forward with Tennis.”