Pieters appointed tennis CEO

Mould said that tennis had been run by volunteers to date, but that the time had come for the NTA to take a strong business like approach.
“We need an injection of enthusiasm to bring tennis to a higher level – in short, we need to raise the bar of attainment and achievement to provide a platform for our players to excel and compete with the rest of the world,” he said.
Mould said the NTA had decided to appoint Pieters as its full-time CEO as from November 2011, to help the NTA achieve its ambitions and to see to it keep its administration and finances in good shape.
“We believe Laurie has the expertise, qualities and experience to tackle this onerous task... Laurie understands that sport is a business and together we intend to raise our turnover from half a million to three million over the next two years,” he said.


At the same occasion, Mould outlined his vision for tennis in Namibia, saying that they could do much better on the world stage. Over the past decade the highlights of Namibian tennis included Jurgens Strydom being ranked the second junior in Africa, while both Strydom and Elizma Nortje competed at Wimbledon.
Regarding development, Mould said they currently had development officers in Windhoek and Swakopmund while the programme, which has been supported by First National Bank for the past 10 years, had recently been extended to the north of Namibia.
“But we need to do more. We need to reach out to potential players throughout the country including such places as Katima Mulilo and Rundu; and we need to support the already established bodies in Tsumeb, Outjo, Grootfontein and in the south.” he said.
The NTA had also formed a Coaches Association of Namibia and all coaches will be required to attain the necessary qualifications.
Mould lauded the NTA’s junior programme, under the leadership of Johan Theron, saying that Namibia’s top juniors held their own at an international level.
“At the recent All Africa Games in Maputo, half the team consisted of juniors and proved that they can hold their own at that level,” he said.
Mould introduced Kallie Heese as the chairman of the NTA’s senior committee, thanking him for his enthusiasm, as well as the chairman of tennis at the coast, Danie van Niekerk.
– namibiasport.com.na