By: Hee-Dee Walenga
Since 2021, the Rundu Tennis Academy has been teaching young residents of Rundu the game of tennis.
Korea Roseman, a former football coach, received his International Tennis Federation (ITF) coaching certification in 2022 and has led the academy since.
The monthly fees from parents is what sustains the academy, to which Roseman claims to be the cheapest in the country. The academy has approximately 60 athletes, whose ages range from 4 to 25 years old. This siginified the academy’s growth, as it only started with three athletes in 2021.
The academy has been participating in Namibia Tennis Association (NTA) national tournaments since 2022, having had at least six representatives at each national tournament since 2023, bringing back a minimum of 3 medals from each tournament.
“We have not gone to a national tournament in the last three years without collecting a medal,” Roseman told The Villager.
The academy practices on government facilities in Rundu. Additionally, the government assists the athletes with transport to national tournaments. These tournaments usually take place in Windhoek and Swakopmund.
“I am very grateful to the Ministry of Sports for supporting the academy since 2022,” Roseman expressed. The government has assisted the academy with transport for each tournament it has participated in. Supporting private academies is not standard practice for the ministry, however, an exception has been made to support the talented youth.
“With the ministry coming on board with transport, it really helps us big time,” Roseman stated. He also stated that the academy has received more support from outside Rundu than from within, which he expressed as the biggest challenge the academy faces.
“My main challenge is my own region not supporting me,” Roseman said.
The Rundu Tennis Academy is an example of the abundant talent that Namibia’s youth possess.
