Competition and international friendship will be on the agenda for the South Africa/Arthur Ashe Youth Tennis Connection on Friday, December 4 and Saturday, December 5 when the 2009 South African Primary Schools Under 13 National Tennis Team makes a special visit to their young Philadelphia counterparts at the Arthur Ashe Youth Tennis and Education Center, 4842 Ridge Ave., as part of the South African team’s 10-day tour of the United States.
The South African team, consisting of a diverse group of 20 boys and 20 girls between the ages of 11 and 13, will participate in competitive team tennis sessions at the Ashe Center with Ashe players from the Philadelphia area on Friday (4 p.m. to 10 p.m.) and Saturday (8 a.m. to 12 p.m.)
The South African tour is being organized by Louis Bolling, a Philadelphia native who played tennis in many Arthur Ashe programs before moving to Johannesburg, South Africa.
"Not only will the South African team’s visit and competition be an important and unforgettable experience for our Ashe young people, but it will also allow us to honor Arthur Ashe’s involvement in the anti-apartheid movement in South Africa, both on American and South African soil during the 1980s," said Kenny Holdsman, President of Arthur Ashe Youth Tennis and Education.
In addition to tennis and training sessions, Ashe will host a meet and greet reception at the Ashe Center on Friday, December 4 at 7 p.m. for parents, supporters, teams and government officials. Information on attending the event is available at www.ashetennis.org or by calling (215) 487-3477.
Students on the South African team were selected from the annual SATA Primary School tournament held in KwaZulu-Natal last July. The USA tour provides the talented students an opportunity to train and compete against other juniors while gaining international athletic and educational experiences that will transform their lives.
In addition to their visit to Philadelphia and Arthur Ashe, the team will also make stops in Washington, DC, College Park, MD, and Alexandria, VA.
