GTC establishing niches in rural communities

Evicted from Haddon Hotel courts at Murray’s Road last month, the Grassroot Tennis Club (GTC) has not stayed idle and has kept its resources going with a movement to the rural communities.

The GTC has taken on the Petit Bordel Secondary School hard court in the first instance, with other communities to come on stream in the not too distant future.{{MORE}}

The Petit Bordel outlet of the package to be pursued was christened last Saturday with an official launch of the club’s tennis programme on that side of the island.

Saturday’s session was attended by close to 100 youngsters, many of them getting their first taste of tennis.

On hand also were the co-ordinators of the Police Youth Clubs which are in operation on the mainland, and who accepted a quantity of rackets, balls, a net and other equipment for the purpose of teaching the sport of tennis in the Petit Bordel area.

Also present were Assistant Superintendent of Police Enville Williams and outgoing Commissioner of Police Michael Charles.

Both men thanked the Grassroot Tennis Club for partnering with the local constabulary in providing an avenue, not only to learn the sport of tennis, but also make use of their spare time by engaging in activities which are meaningful.

A delighted Grant Connell, director of the GTC, was high in praise for Charles, who he said was on board with the initial ground work to train the 12 police officers.

“Charles may have seen the vision even before us at the Grassroot Tennis Club, hence he gave his officers the green light to take in the coaching by club’s head coach Trevor Sam; now the fruits are beginning to bear,” Connell told SEARCHLIGHT.

Continuing his praise for the outgoing COP, Connell noted that Charles himself took in some of the training and when the preparations were being done to Petit Bordel hard court, Charles “rolled up his sleeves and did work on the court”.

“Persons like him are rare species and we have to wish him well as he goes into retirement,” Connell stated.

Connell noted that the Petit Bordel launch is one of many undertakings to be done by the GTC, as according to him, “We are going to resurrect some of the dormant hard courts we have lying around… We are going to give them a new lease of life.

“Once resurrected, the tennis equipment will be kept at the Police Station closest to the courts, and the trained officers will then instruct the Police Youth Clubs’ members and others from the wider community in the sport,” Connell outlined.

In making reference to the club’s eviction from the Murray’s Road base, which they had occupied for the last six years, Connell quipped, “One may say out of evil have cometh good and I hope that the owners of Star Garage will assist the Police Force by generously donating a vehicle from one of the lines they carry to the local constabulary to assist in fighting crime, the way the Police Youth Clubs and the Grassroot Tennis Clinic are double partner in doing the same”.