Seetso off to Florida as tennis career soars
Calistus Kolantsho | Friday September 27, 2019 10:40
The tournament, under the auspices of the International Tennis Federation (ITF) and the Grand Slam Development Fund (GSDF), runs from November 28 to December 23.
Seetso becomes the first local player to take part in the tournament, which will give him an opportunity to climb up the rankings.
Botswana Tennis Association (BTA) spokesperson, Katlego Keagoletse said the project is funded by Grand Slam Development Fund and administered by ITF. The players are expected to arrive in Florida on November 28 together with their coaches.
The training camp starts the following day with the first tournament, Eddie Herr international Championship, being played from December 2 to 8. Seetso would play in the 16 and under, until December 16. The Junior Orange bowl hosts the last tournament from December 17 to 23. “Our role as the association is to make sure that Seetso enters all the tournaments and also pays for his fees,” he said.
Meanwhile, BTA will host a tutors’ course at Notwane courts during the Independence Day holiday. The Southern Africa ITF development officer, Kagiso Kelebeile will facilitate the course.
“The intention is for BTA to be able to conduct its own coaches education course at entry level, which is Play and Stay. This is part of the BTA strategy to develop its own coaching licencing system,” he said. Some of the coaches expected to attend are Petrus Molefhe, Phenyo Matong, Aobakwe Lekang, Trevor Morekisi and Gaone Modisane.
Keagoletse said Modisane is the only woman in the line-up and it is part of BTA’s way of encouraging women. Francistown Open tennis tournament also gets underway today until Monday. The tournament is open to junior, senior and veteran players.