Confederation of Africa Tennis
Sulle secured the scholarship tenable at the academy courtesy of
International Tennis Federation and Confederation of Africa Tennis
(ITF/CAT).
According to ITF /CAT the player was supposed to arrive in
Casablanca on August 18, but 11 days have gone and the player is still
in the country.
TTA president Fina Mango last week said her association has raised
$2,500 for the contribution of the player’s upkeep in Morocco, his air
ticket and was expected to travel to Casablanca last Monday or Tuesday
depending on the availability of Casablanca-destined flights.
Mango could not pick her phone yesterday when contacted to know when the player will leave the country.
The TTA president recently said although the scholarship is paid by
ITF /CAT her association is required to contribute a certain amount for
the player’s upkeep at the center.
She said ITF /CAT have communicated to TTA that in 2015 the
players’ scholarships will be jointly funded by the ITF and Olympic
Solidarity.
‘Whilst the scholarship covers most items including food,
accommodation and training, an annual contribution of $2,500 paid by the
federation will be used towards the cost of additional items relating
to the players’ stay not included in the scholarship,’ she said.
However, reliable sources from within the TTA corridors have it
that the association has failed to raise money for the player’s
scholarship.
‘The Association (TTA) has no money to send Omari Sulle to
Casablanca and another tennis player Emmanuel Mallya is also in unsure
to travel to Burundi for the East Africa tennis training center.
In fact the association has to pay the outstanding balance of
$6,000 to the Burundi Center for Sulle and Emmanuel Mallya,’ concluded
the source.
The source said the development has prompted the Arusha Gymkhana
Club that nursed Sulle to frantically hunt for funds so that he does not
miss the opportunity of training at the Casablanca camp.
The Arusha Club and tennis lovers in the region approached
Marjolijn Pronk of Explore Tanzania to sponsor the youngster’s trip to
Morocco.
According to latest reports, Pronk who is based in the Netherlands
has sent the $2,500 direct to Casablanca while Sulle and TTA are waiting
for the center to confirm to have received the money.
‘You know Pronk and her family stayed in Arusha for many years and
they used to play tennis and other games, so when they heard Sulle has
not travelled to Morocco due to lack of money, they decided to sponsor
him by sending the money directly to Morocco, What we are waiting now is
to raise money for his flight ticket’ added the source.
Arusha Gymkhana Club tennis head coach Nicholas Jonas could not
confirm or deny the sponsorship from Pronk’s family advising this
reporter to contact the family.
Pronk has not responded to email query.
However, Jonas, said the Arusha Gymkhana Club has in the previous
year’s sponsored their players to attend training in Burundi, however,
the trend was halted after new TTA leadership came into power.
‘If I’ m not wrong all Tanzania players who have attended training
at East and Central Africa Tennis Center in Burundi are from this club
(Arusha Gymkhana Club) and it was the tradition of the management and
members to assist them, but the new leadership of TTA said it will take
over as it is their duty to support the players’ said the source.
Sulle who excelled to win all local and international tournaments
this year in Under 14 boys category, has been based at ITF /CAT East
Africa center in Burundi for three years.
According to TTA, Sulle becomes the first Tanzanian to win a scholarship at the newly opened center in Casablanca.
SOURCE:
THE GUARDIAN