Nortje named as top junior coach

NAMIBIAN tennis player and coach Elizma Nortje was chosen as the first ever Namibian by the International Tennis Federation (ITF) to be one of the mentors for the international under 16 team.

The team will be involved on a tour in Europe. šIt is really a great honour for me to be chosen as one of the coaches by the ITF for tournaments in Italy, which will be in Brescia, Milano and Crema,š she said.She added that matches will also be played in France, Paris and these matches involve the Junior French Open in la Baule, le Pontet and in Paris.They will conclude the tour with the Junior Wimbledon in England, London.A total of 13 players from across the world have been chosen to be part of the team.The players come from countries such as Chinese Taipei, China, Indonesia, India, and Guatemala.The coaches who will be working with the players also include Frank Zlekak (Czech Republic), former ATP player Clement N’Goran and Nortje.The former Namibian champion leaves for Italy today and will be involved in a training camp ahead of the Junior French Open which starts on June 8 in Paris.She said the knowledge she will gain by working with the worldŽs top junior players will be an advantage to Namibian players, as she would plough it all back into the development of the game locally.šIt is really a great honour for me to be chosen as one of the coaches by the ITF for tournaments in Italy, which will be in Brescia, Milano and Crema,š she said.She added that matches will also be played in France, Paris and these matches involve the Junior French Open in la Baule, le Pontet and in Paris.They will conclude the tour with the Junior Wimbledon in England, London.A total of 13 players from across the world have been chosen to be part of the team.The players come from countries such as Chinese Taipei, China, Indonesia, India, and Guatemala.The coaches who will be working with the players also include Frank Zlekak (Czech Republic), former ATP player Clement N’Goran and Nortje.The former Namibian champion leaves for Italy today and will be involved in a training camp ahead of the Junior French Open which starts on June 8 in Paris.She said the knowledge she will gain by working with the worldŽs top junior players will be an advantage to Namibian players, as she would plough it all back into the development of the game locally.