Johan Kriek
To: Daily Herald From: Brenda Carty Date: July 30, 2000
Johan Kriek
ANGUILLA�At a special reception at Paradise Cove tennis professional Johan Kriek was welcomed to the island and thanked for his participation in the Tennis Academy. He arrived in Anguilla on Thursday evening and on Friday and Saturday gave some special coaching to children at the Tennis Camp.
Governor Peter Johnstone with Damien and Mitch
The Governor, Peter Johnstone praised the organizers of the Tennis Academy, Mitchelle Lake and Damien Hughes for their initiative and said that he hoped we will be hearing much more about it. He wished the academy every success in its plans for the future.
�I am here to give these young men support,� said Minister of Social Services, Eric Reid. He noted that the government will support them wherever possible and that he admires what they are doing. �I am here to tell you that we are definitely behind you in your endeavours,� he stressed.
Johan, Deputy Governor Cousins, Minister Reid,
and Mrs. Cousins
Mitch and Damien were praised for their drive and determination by the President of the Tennis Association, Valentine Banks. He said he is proud of their efforts and the dedication over the past five years in running the Tennis Camp.
Maria Lopez, tennis player from Venezuela
Mitchelle spoke of his dream five years ago of starting the Tennis Academy after he had been successful in gaining a tennis scholarship. He explained that he approached Robert Johnson, of BET (Black Entertainment Television) who thought it an excellent idea and has supported the Tennis Camp each year. 650 children have benefitted from the camp since it started but Mitch now wants to take it to another level.
�The key thing for the development of tennis is a tennis facility, and together with Mr Johnson we have been working to raise funds for this project,� Mitch said. He observed that it will be a great way to move forward and have sports tourism on the island and make tennis a major sport. He thanked the visiting coaches from South America and from the USA and Johan Kriek for his support and for coming to Anguilla.
Kriek was ranked in the top twenty from 1980 to 1985, with a career best world ranking of #7 in 1984. He won fifteen singles titles and twelve doubles titles. He won the Australian Open twice and was in the semi final of the US Open in 1980. He told the Daily Herald that he now runs his own company SMI (Sports Masters International) and organizes events, exhibitions, and tournaments in tennis, golf and fishing.
He told the people at the reception that he is happy to be in Anguilla and commended Mitch and Damien for their incredible drive and enthusiasm. He feels an affinity to Anguilla as he comes from a small community in South Africa although he now lives in Naples, Florida. He said that he is one hundred percent behind the idea of a tennis facility for the island and is very willing to help in the design, programme and the raising of funds for the project.
All the Couches
Attending the event were the Governor and Mrs Johnstone, Deputy Governor and Mrs Cousins, the Minister of Social Services and Sport, Eric Reid and the Parliamentary Secretary for Economic Development, Marcel Fahie. Many of the sponsors of the Tennis Academy were there too including, Millie Hodge and Eileen Pagan from American Airlines/American Eagle who provided free tickets for the coaches and Johan Kriek to attend the Tennis camp.
Lee Bertman with Mitch
Also Lee Bertman from All Island Cable Television, Valentine Banks from the National Bank of Anguilla, Preston Bryan and Leslie Richardson from Caribbean Commercial Bank, Walter MacCalman from Scotiabank, Chris and Jo-Anne Mason and Eudoxie and Sandra Wallace from Scilly Cay, all of whom had contributed in various ways to the success of the camp. D3 Enterprise, the Anguilla Lottery, Cable television, the Tourist Board and Cove Castles sponsored the cocktail reception.
For more pictures from the reception, Click Here.
For more about Tennis Camp 2000, Click Here.