When he was asked to give up football for tennis at the age of ten, Sirsean Arlain had no idea what life would serve him next. So, as most kids would do, he just went along with his mother’s wishes. Years later who would have guessed that Sirsean would describe himself as a tennis enthusiast? Moreover, he never imagined that he would become a coach, using his skill to change the lives of others.
Sirsean was able to use tennis as a means of advancement. He acquired a scholarship to attend Southern University and later transferred to Averett University where he majored in biomedicine with minors in sociology and psychology. He explains that what he finds most fascinating about tennis is that “it is never the same.” The adrenalin that he gets from it is unsurpassed, so he keeps on playing.
After many years living abroad, Sirsean decided to return home in 2007. Surprised by the deterioration of tennis in Saint Lucia, he decided to quit his full-time job and take on the colossal challenge of engendering what some might call the “resurgence of tennis in Saint Lucia.” As a result of his passion and love for the game, and the fact that sitting behind a desk was just not in his nature, the Tiger Tennis Club was born.
The club was founded three years ago by Sirsean Arlain, Ron Blanchard, Janeva Mathurin, Robert Huggins and Danny Augustin. Its goal is to eliminate the stigma once attached to tennis, namely that it is an elitist sport, and make the game more prominent in Saint Lucia, especially at the school level. Sirsean had concluded that the decline of local tennis was due to the loss of some great coaches and the lack of facilities and corporate sponsorship. This was about to change.
The construction of the Kenneth “Wriggler” King Multipurpose Sports Centre in Conway was a milestone in the development of tennis in Saint Lucia. It proved to be a step in the right direction toward the development not just of tennis but sports in general. In addition to the Multipurpose Sports Centre, the construction of the St. Lucia National Tennis Centre in Beausejour was another milestone that helped to further the development of the game. Its construction gave Tiger Tennis Club the avenue they needed to take what seemed to be a dwindling sport and revamp it so that anyone who wished could participate in this extraordinary experience.
For some it would be for more than just fun and games; it would be an opportunity to improve their playing skills and further their educational pursuits, including for coaches. Sirsean and his team fervently believe that having adequate facilities is essential to the growth of any sport. This affords the players and tennis aspirants a great opportunity to train in state-of-the-art facilities. It also puts them at less of a disadvantage when they come up against opponents from other countries who have no difficulties in that area.
With a dynamic and committed team and access to improved and less restrictive facilities, Tiger Tennis Club decided to extend their programme to the primary and secondary Schools in the north of the island. This was one of the club’s original goals. They are passionate about promoting youth development and health and want to facilitate not just training but also offer a comprehensive, life-changing experience to all their members.
They have since written to the Ministry of Education urging it to incorporate tennis into the schools’ curriculum. The club shares the sentiments of former US President John F. Kennedy who said, “Our progress as a nation can be no swifter than our progress in education. The human mind is our fundamental resource.”
To date the club has been established in five schools – Anglican Infant and Primary, Methodist Primary, Morne Du Don Combined, Vide Boutielle Secondary and Leon Hess Secondary. Its membership also includes students from St. Aloysius RC Boys Primary, Castries Comprehensive Secondary, St Mary’s College and St Joseph’s Convent, to name a few. The club believes this will help to minimise the disparity that exists between St. Lucian players and their international and regional counterparts.
If there is to be a marked change in the public perception of tennis and people’s attitude towards the game, it must start with the kids while they are still very young. There is also an urgent need for resources and tournaments in order to give local players the best opportunities for training and advancement possible.
The Tiger Tennis Club has hosted several tournaments and camps, some of which have been televised. Its focus is on helping young tennis hopefuls develop and improve their skills and techniques and getting them used to playing in a competitive setting.
Coach Earl Blanchard has been imparting his knowledge and skills to the juniors. A Saint Lucian national known for his dedication and commitment to the sport, Coach Blanchard views his role as fundamental to the young players’ development. He holds the distinction of being a PTR certified (Professional Tennis Registry) professional with over 30 years of experience.
The club has also received support from the St. Lucia National Tennis Association and a number of sponsors who share their vision. The sponsors include Computer World, E-zone, LIME, Sandals, Subway, Voyager, Voice Publishing Company Ltd. and Western Union, all of whom, despite economic constraints, have maintained their support and help to keep the club’s programme going.
The Tiger Tennis Club caters to a wide range of players, from ages five to twenty-three. They are divided into groups and training times are segmented. The programme is normally held on Saturdays at the Kenneth “Wriggler” King Multi-purpose Sports Centre located at George V Park, more popularly known as ‘The Gardens’.
The beginner and intermediate groups (age five to eight and eight to eleven) are trained in the morning from 9:30 – 11:30 a.m. The tournament players train from 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. The club also caters to adult women and men who are interested in the game and offers a Ladies Night Class and Men’s Class. If you’re interested in enrolling in the programme, you can contact the group at 486-1504; tigertennisslu@gmail.com and www.facebook.com/tigertennisstlucia.
The Tiger Tennis Club has certainly made a huge difference in the growth and development of local tennis by helping to broaden its appeal at the grass roots level. More importantly, the club is helping to inculcate a sense of sportsmanship and camaraderie among the young players while helping them understand that “the will to win, the desire to succeed, the urge to reach your full potential,” are the keys that will unlock the door to personal excellence.
Dazzle wishes the Tiger Tennis Club success in all their endeavours and hope they have a great year!
