East Africa Forum

Suite 101, Independent Canadian website

March 2, 2010

Greca Durant

Tennis has been the saving grace of some disadvantaged children in Addis Ababa, thanks to Coaches Tariku and Desta Tesfaye, who created the Ethiopian Kids’ Tennis Project

In Addis Ababa, the capital city of Ethiopia, ground tennis is one of the favourite pastimes of city residents. They play on clay courts maintained by clubs that charge minimal membership fees

Tennis at the Greek Olympiacos Club, Addis Ababa

At the Greek Olympiacos Club (Greek Club), tennis enthusiasts of all ages converge to play or take lessons under competent coaches. Having its own restaurant serving decent food at reasonable prices has added to the popularity of the Greek Club.

Ato Tariku & Ato Desta Tesfaye’s Ethiopian Kids’ Tennis Project

The Greek Club is also home to the Addis Ababa Greek Olympiacos Tennis Team, a sturdy group of under-privileged Ethiopian children, aged 11-13, who has caught the attention of the international tennis world, due to their formidable performance, here in Ethiopia and abroad.

Envisioned by the club’s professional tennis coaches, Ato Tariku Tesfaye, former Ethiopian Davis Cup/African Youth Cup team member, and his brother, Ato Desta, the momentous undertaking called Ethiopian Kids’ Tennis Project is their way of paying forward what others had done to help them, both former ball tossers, advance their lives.

Addis Ababa Greek Olympiacos Tennis Team

Ato Tariku coaches a 10 member-team comprised of Billie Getachew, Dinkenesh Tamiru, Estifanos Hagos, Meron Getu, Nanom Tilanum, Nathnael Moges, Samrawit Teklu, Semira Michael, Robel Getu and Yonas Gebre.

During training and tournaments, the performance of each child is documented, with a team member marking all points won or lost, errors made, so improvement could be done at subsequent games.

A good example was when Samrawit Teklu competed at the Mitsubishi Motors-Mercedes Benz Tennis Open held at the Hilton Addis. She reigned Champion in the under-13 girls’ category, but her service was so erratic, she was ordered by Coach Tariku to serve a thousand balls, after her first game, to perfect her service skills.

Meron Getu and Dinkenesh Tamiru vied for the Ladies Category Championship trophy at the same tournament; Meron’s superior skills prevailed at the end. It also earned her an invitation from the Singapore Tennis Federation.

Support from Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Meles, the UN, and German Entities
The tennis project has attracted goodwill from various sectors. Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Meles rewarded Coach Tariku and his players with trophies and monetary support for their triumphant efforts in international tennis tournaments. Team members share winnings.
The project is also under the patronage of Mr Wilfried Lemke, UN Under-Secretary General and Special Adviser to the UN Secretary General on Sport for Development and Peace. The German Government had given it a boost with Coach Tariku meeting up with Madame Heidemarie Wiecsorek-Zeul, the Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development.

The German Embassy School of Addis Ababa (Deutsche Botschenschaftsschule Addis Abeba) has been supporting this endeavour since its inception in 2001, with Mr Norbert Klevenz and Mr Bruno Boehler as co-founders.

Through these joint efforts, and with the generous support of the Manfred Lautenschläger Foundation, and the GSM Plc under Dr Matthias Zimmermann, Coach Tariku and a select squad of his finest players composed of Dinkenesh Tamiru, Meron Getu, Robel Getu, Samrawit Teklu, Semira Michael and Yonas Gebre travelled twice to Germany, to attend the Tennis Academy Rhein-Neckar, and to participate in various tournaments held there.

The academy facilitated Coach Tariku’s, Meron’s and Yonas’s further training at the Dennis Van der Meer Tennis University at Hilton Head Is., USA. In addition, Meron and Yonas tested their skills at Florida State’s most prestigious Junior Orange Bowl International Tennis competition.

Tennis and Schoolwork Go Together

For the youngsters, it is not all tennis, though. They also have to excel in their schoolwork. Thanks to benevolent sponsors, Yonas and Meron are now enrolled at an international school, increasing their prospects of improving their life situations.

The others pursue their secondary education in state schools, but everyone gets free supplementary English and German language and Maths lessons.

The Ethiopian Kids’ Tennis Project in 2010

Year 2010 has commenced very well for Coach Tariku and his wards. Dinkenesh Tamiru, Meron Getu, and Yonas Gebre flew to Nairobi, Kenya to join a two-week tennis camp. Dinkenesh and Meron will also represent Ethiopia (under-16 girls category) at the coming All African Tennis Championships in Nigeria. The team also dominated the recently-concluded Bole 19 Open.

How to Get Involved

Assistance in the form of new tennis rackets/balls, sports attire, academic scholarships and educational supplies, tournament invitations and training sponsorships are always welcome.