Camacho gives tennis challenge

“Believe in the dream and follow through on it.”

These were the inspiring words of President of the Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee, Douglas Camacho, as he delivered the feature address at the Tennis Association’s 2003 Awards ceremony on Saturday. Before an intimate audience which represented the tennis fraternity at the VIP Lounge of the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo’s Camacho mixed frank delivery with his own proposals for the growth of tennis in Trinidad and Tobago.

The insurance executive outlined the need for the unique qualities of the discipline to be utilised on a more developmental level especially on the administrative plain. These unique qualities, Camacho said, made tennis accessible on all levels of the society and as a result could serve as the common ground for national progress. Among his many admonitions was the question about which member of the local fraternity could realise international acclaim continuing in the current vein. The Olympic Committee official’s address was an outright challenge for tennis to make progressive steps through visionary leadership.

Camacho called for a course of action to be mapped out, recognising at the same time his shortcomings as a member of the tennis faithful, to better organise and facilitate the discipline throughout Trinidad and Tobago. He stated it would not be easy but that they should set their minds to embrace the challenges when they come around. It seemed that the call for progress had already been answered as most of the awardees were still in school and had shown increasing talent and grit through the 2003 season. Among them were “Local Player of the Year (Female)” — Renee Branker and “Most Outstanding Player Male Under-18” — Jerome Ward.

Ivor Grazette continued his domination of the sport and captured the “Local Player of the Year Male” award once again while Olivia Bennett and Jerome Ward were adjudged to be the “Most Outstanding Players18 and Under.” Shenelle Mohammed who together with Carlista Mohammed captured the National Women Doubles crown was named “Most Outstanding Player 14 and Under.” Not to be outdone was  Michael Cooper who secured the “Veteran Player” award while the National Tennis Centre and the Tranquillity tennis club took the 2003 Small and Big Club awards.

Following is the list of awardees:
Local Player of the Year : Male: Ivor Grazette; Female: Renee Branker.
Most Outstanding Player: 18 and Under; Male: Jerome Ward, Female: Olivia Bennett.
14 and Under: Male: Richard Chung; Female: Shenelle Mohammed.
Most Promising Player: Male: Abdoulaye Camara; Female: Lee Ann Lingo.
Most Improved Player: Male: Johnathan Gouveia; Female: Rayeann Sandy
Sportsmanship Award:Male: Michael Clarke; Female: Sanian Lewis.
Rookie 2003 : Male: Christopher Brash; Female: Kernel Teesdale.
Veteran Player 2003: Michael Cooper
Small Club 2003: National Tennis Centre Club.
Big Club 2003: Tranquillity Tennis Club.