Michael Nanton gets Grassroot’s honour

Former long-standing President of the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Tennis Association Michael Nanton was, last Saturday afternoon, presented with a plaque by Grassroot Tennis Club, in recognition of his priceless and selfless contribution to the sport here.{{more}}

The presentation was made during the Closing and Presentation Ceremony of the Grassroot Easter Junior Tennis Tournament at the Haddon Hotel courts, at Murray’s Road.

A surprised Nanton accepting the award, thanked the Grassroot’s organisation for its gesture.

Blunt and unapologetic, Nanton, who headed the national tennis body from 1997 to 2002, said that the organisation is yet to formally thank him.

He said that he did not do what he did for recognition, but “that was not the way we were brought up.”

Nanton said that it was only the National Sports Council (NSC) which, four years ago, publicly recognised his efforts.

Meanwhile, head of the Grassroot Tennis Club, Grant Connell, said that his organisation was not doing like Football, which waited until the passing, early last year, of Sylvester ‘Scobie’ Taylor, a former national footballer and former President of the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Football Association, as it was named then, to “sing his praises.”

Connell charged that he is also hoping that the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Squash Association does not wait on the death of Cecil Cyrus, who he described as “the father of Squash,” before they too sing his praises. (RT)