Tennis in a tangle over Coaches
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What’s bugging the Tennis scene? Students and parents of students enrolled in the Tennis programme at the Sri Lanka Tennis Association (SLTA) are currently facing troubled times with their current coach, Eric Pietersz, although practices are conducted for them.
It is learnt that the SLTA is having trouble retaining their coaches for the contracted period. There are claims that the change of Tennis coaches has been recurring, and they are ill treating the current coach.
Before bringing Eric as the SLTA coach, they had a Sri Lankan coach. Then the job was handed over to coach Pietersz. This move was lauded by the majority of the parents and people that matter.
But sadly, things have begun to turn sour at the SLTA, and Pietersz had been given a termination letter, even before his contract has ended. This decision has been taken without the consent of the parents.
The SLTA has locked Pietersz out of the premises, not allowing him to coach.
Subsequently, the parents had sought the intervention of the Sports Minister, and he had directed the SLTA to give Pietersz a period of six months to complete the programme. Now the SLTA is of the view that Pietersz is not a good coach.
Apparently, it is said that the SLTA plans to shut down the training programme in April, as the 6-month period for coach Pietersz is over.
The first tournament of 2017 is over, and the champions from Under-10 – Under-16 were coached by Eric Pietersz.
Concerned Parent Â