Workforce Development Authority (WDA) and Rwanda Tennis federation ( RTF) have signed a three-year agreement to develop through the sport in Rwanda talent detection competitions and producing skilled coaches.

Kassim Ntageruka, the president of the local tennis governing body, said that with the new agreement, the federation will be able to play its role in looking for and selecting talented students so they are enrolled to Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) schools to specialise in the sport.

"Under the agreement we will have to select teachers of tennis and organise training to improve their skills, set up tennis playgrounds and provide needed equipment for specialised courses in tennis. The ultimate goal is to produce skilled and passionate tennis coaches,” he said.

According to Director General of WDA, Jerome Gasana, the institution partnered with the tennis federation so as to strengthen development of technical and training skills of the sport through TVET schools.

WDA will also guide the exercise to develop curriculum for tennis courses based on needed technical skills, he said.

There are other sports academies supported by WDA such as cricket in Kicukiro, football in Kabutare, athletics in Gicumbi, and handball in Karongi.

It is also reported that others for swimming and volleyball will soon be launched.

According to Dr Aimable Ndejuru, one of the instructors of tennis, there are currently 16 students in a tennis training centre that was inaugurated two years ago, and they will graduate next year.

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