By Dadson A. Musa
Sierra Leone’s tennis revival is gaining momentum under the leadership of President Andy Bam, following his election as president and executive head of the Sierra Leone Tennis Association (SLTA), his transformative agenda has already begun yielding results, most notably with the return of the International Tennis Federation (ITF) to Sierra Leone after a decade-long absence.
The ITF’s renewed engagement was prompted by president Bam’s successful organization of the National tennis championship, the first of its kind in 15 years, the well-coordinated event caught the attention of the ITF, leading to a three-day official visit by Mr. Amine Ben Makhlouf, the ITF’s Development Officer for North and West Africa.
The ITF’s visit aimed to strengthen international collaboration, support the development of tennis infrastructure, facilitate training programs for local coaches, and provide tennis equipment for junior players across the country.
In a high-level meeting held at the Country Lodge Hotel, Mr. Ben Makhlouf expressed his gratitude to the SLTA for extending the invitation and praised President Bam for his leadership, vision, and commitment to reviving tennis in Sierra Leone. I’m impressed by the proactive efforts of President Bam and his team, their dedication is commendable, especially during challenging times, Mr. Ben Makhlouf said.
Also in attendance at the meeting were key members of the SLTA executive Mr. Benjamin Stevens Treasurer, Lawyer Alfred G. Gbonda Secretary General, Mr. Dennis Sesay Assistant Secretary General, Hon. Arthur Harvey Honorary President
As part of his visit, the ITF representative paid courtesy calls to the Ministry of Sports, the National Sports Authority (NSA), and the National Olympic Committee (NOC), further reinforcing the commitment to long-term tennis development in the country, president Bam’s efforts mark a new chapter for Sierra Leonean tennis, with the hope that the nation will soon regain its footing in regional and international tennis competitions.
Copy right –Printed in the Expo Times News on Friday, June 13TH, 2025 (ExpoTimes News – Expo Media Group (expomediasl.com)
