HAVING TRIGGERED a rapid rise up the national tennis ladder for Letlotlo Primary School, teacher and coach Thembi Mathobela hopes to carry her knowledge and experience to new courts as she continues to help expand the sport through the BNP Paribas RCS Rising Star Tennis series.
After starting a tennis programme at Letlotlo school in Seshego last year and launching the institution’s participation in BNP Paribas RCS Rising Star Tennis, two of her teams have been awarded wild cards into the National Final of the 2022 series, with the school having finished in second position in both the girls’ and boys’ primary school categories in Limpopo.
Mathobela, a former elite player for the University of Limpopo, is an experienced teacher who launched her coaching career a few years ago when she formed part of the BNP Paribas Coaches Mentorship Programme, which aims to widen the diversity of tennis coaches in the country by equipping South Africans – particularly those from historically disadvantaged communities – with coaching skills and licences in an effort to develop the sport.
Equipped with this knowledge, her school made its debut in the popular BNP Paribas RCS Rising Star Tennis series last year, before taking another big step forward this season.
Following her school’s remarkable success, Mathobela said she was “beyond happy” to have two squads competing in the season-ending top-flight development tournament.
“We have worked so hard with other coaches and other members of my school to prepare the kids and it has paid off. It is because of teamwork that we got this far today,” she said.
“The BNP Paribas Coaches Mentorship programme has helped me a great deal in growing the programme. The things we have learned have given me the skills and enthusiasm to start a team.”
Though she is set to leave her current school in order to take up an opportunity at another school, Mathobela says she hopes to continue campaigning for the sport and expanding tennis participation in Limpopo.
“Sadly, I will be leaving Letlotlo Primary school, but I hope the school keeps up the great work in my absence. I will be moving to another school and hope to introduce a tennis programme there too,” she said.
Other teams that have received wildcard entries for the BNP Paribas RCS Rising Star Tennis National Final include three sides from Westridge Park Tennis Stadium in KwaZulu-Natal, six teams from hubs in Tshwane, and SJ van der Merwe in Limpopo.
The National Final of the 2022 BNP Paribas RCS Rising Star Tennis programme will be played at two venues – Groenkloof Tennis Club and University of Pretoria in Tshwane – between 4-6 November.
A total of 58 primary school, high school and wheelchair tennis teams will battle it out to be crowned national champions.
Image CameraBoy Productions (After starting a tennis programme at Letlotlo Primary school in Seshego last year and launching the institution’s participation in BNP Paribas RCS Rising Star Tennis, two of coach and teacher Thembi Mathobela’s teams have been awarded wild cards into the National Final of the 2022 series, with the school having finished in second position in both the girls’ and boys’ primary school categories in Limpopo).
