Femi Solaja
The fourthedition of the Fusion Tennis Academy Coaching Clinic began at the at Lagos Lawn Tennis Club yesterday and will run until August 20.
Founder and the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Tennis Academy, Mr Fuad Quadre, who made this known in Lagos said 300 children would participate in this year’s edition, stressing that the aim is to catch them young and teach them modern techniques in tennis.
Mr Quadre who is a former Nigerian number One ranked player in the junior category for many years and also represented the country in junior Davis Cup, hinted that the clinic is to bring out the best in the children at early stage of their tennis career.
“This is the 4th edition of the Fusion Tennis Academy; everything is set and it will be better than the first three editions we had and more than 300 pupils will take part in this year’s clinic. We hope to be able to spot out the talented ones amongst them and see how far we can follow them up”.
He emphasised that the Academy wants to help the non-privileged players to take part in the game of tennis, stating that there would be no avenue for them to be used as instruments of social vices in the future.
Quadre an International Tennis Federation (ITF) certified coach, stressed that Sports without education was incomplete even if one wants to be a professional tennis player, the person must be educated.
“Sports without education is incomplete, even though you want to be a professional tennis player, you have to be educated and that is why we are making sure they go to school and the good ones could be helped to get scholarships into universities in the U.S”.
Quadre, who plies his coaching career in Dubai, UAE came back home to give back to the society through the game that made him and impact his wealth of experience on the children and upcoming players who want to take tennis as a career.”
Quadre an elder brother of former Africa number One Junior ranked player, Oyinlomo Quadre, disclosed that ITF certified coaches in Nigeria, America and Europe are on ground for the clinic to mentor the children and the junior players.
