Like fathers, like sons

The Under-6 boys’ final of the SVG General Services Junior Tennis Tournament, Saturday at the Grassroot Tennis Club on Murray’s Road, featured Che Connell and of Kayden Sam.{{more}}

Both are sons of former national players – Grant Connell and Trevor Sam and renewed a contest, which the two fathers began many years ago, as junior players on the same court.

The elder Connell — head of the Grassroot Tennis Club and Sam — head coach at the Grassroot Tennis Club, were archrivals in the 1980’s, at the junior level.

Both also represented St Vincent and the Grenadines — with their highest achievement being part of the tennis outfit that participated in the Pam American Games in Mar del Plata, Argentina, in 1995, as well the senior Central America and Caribbean Games.

And, last Saturday, like chips off the blocks, the off-springs mouthed off each other prior to the start of play, and their histrionics displayed on the court, confirmed that the apples indeed don’t fall far from the trees.

History, though, stuck with the Connells, as Rio outlasted Kayden 2 sets to 1 (6-4, 5-6, 6-4).

The under-6 contest between the two pumped players was the final match in the tournament, which began December 17.

The other categories contested were Under-8, Under-10, Under-12 and Under-14, for both boys and girls. (RT)