By Staff Reporter
WINDHOEK
Kallies Tennis School opened its doors in April 2007 and currently 70 children and 7 adults are attending coaching clinics under the guidance of internationally acclaimed mentors from Mondays to Sundays at the (SKW) Sports Club Windhoek tennis courts.
One of the coaches Kallie Heese has International Tennis Federation (ITF) Level 1 qualification, and 10 years’ coaching experience and previously worked with some of Namibia’s leading tennis coaches in the mould of Andre “Arra” de Beer and Jaco Ferreira. During his career as a tennis player, Heese represented Namibia in the World Student games in Japan and is currently playing for the Namibian Veterans tennis team.
Heese is ably assisted by Wesley Lombard, who boasts an ITF level 1 qualification. He did tennis development for Namibia together with Andre de Beer and has 7 years coaching experience that saw him working with Elizma Nortje. Lombard has won all his matches in the men’s first league so far this year.
Barvely Von Luttichou completes the list of the coaching department and brings along a hordes of achievements. She is a product of the highly recommended Dennis Van Der Meer Tennis University in the United States where she obtained the Professional Tennis Registry (PTR) level 1 qualification. Von Luttichou also has ITF level 1 qualification and boasts 5 years of coaching experience with coaching stints in Swakopmund together with Alta Myburgh.
For the first time, the Hotel Thule/ Junior Classics Tennis Tournament forms part of the annual tennis tournament calendar and the two-day competition gets underway in earnest in the capital today. Meanwhile, Walvis Bay is to host the prestigious tournament next year.
During this weekend’s tournament, players of Kallie SKW Tennis School will be competing against players from 2 Tennis Schools from Walvis Bay, namely JP’s Tennis School and Vladi’s Tennis school.
36 players entered the competition, 18 from Windhoek and 18 from Walvis Bay. The players are divided into 3 groups, namely, intermediate girls, intermediate boys and advanced boys. Each team will receive 10 points for a win.
At the end of the competition, all points will be added up to determine the overall winning team.
Programme:
Today 18.07.08 – 17h30 until 21h00
Matches will be played at the SKW tennis courts in Olympia
A big “Braai” will be held this evening at SKW premises while the matches are in progress.
Saturday 19.07.08 – 08h00
SKW and Delta High School tennis courts
19h00 Prize giving at Hotel Thule
Hotel Thule is sponsoring the dinner for the players as well as soft drinks and all parents and interested parties are welcome at the prize-giving ceremony. The dinner for parents and other interested parties will be at a minimal cost of N$ 65.00 per person.
The following items will be awarded at the prize giving ceremony:
– Certificate for Attendance
– Medals (gold, silver and bronze)
– And a floating trophy for the winning team The sponsorship of Hotel Thule consists of the following:
1. 10 double rooms (bed & breakfast) for two nights for the Walvis Bay team.
2. Lunch on Saturday for all players and coaches
3. T-shirts for all players and coaches
4. Certificates, medals and floating trophy
5. Prize giving at Thule Hotel as well as the dinner for the players and coaches