A total 60 participants are attending an ITF Coaching Beginner & Intermediate Players course (Level 1), the first for local trainers since 2005, which started on Wednesday and will run until August 26 at Amahoro Stadium.

Organized by the local tennis governing body, in conjunction with the International Tennis Federation (ITF), the 12-day course has attracted around 60 participants from three countries namely; the Democratic Republic of Congo, Burundi and Rwanda.

ITF expert Micheal Rissani from France is the head instructor and will be assisted by Thierry Ntwari, the ITF Development Officer of the East African region plus Egypt, Comoros, Seychelles, South Sudan and Ethiopia.

Rwanda Tennis Federation (RTF) secretary general, Valens Habimana said that it’s a privilege for the country to host such a high level coaching course.

The 60 participants will be assessed after four days and only the best 25 will qualify for the real Level 1 training course.

"We are very privileged to host this course, the first of its kind in Rwanda in 12 years. We look forward to seeing participants improving their level and producing more tennis players for the country and the region,” Habimana told Times Sport.

He added, "This course will also open boarders four our coaches to go train elsewhere outside the country. Successful participants, after passing exams, will be entered into the ITF database of certified coaches.”

Rwanda has only two coaches at this level, they are; Jean-Pierre Nshimiyimana and Eric Remo Bimenyimana. The last regional course of this kind was in 2013 in Sudan.

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