Welcome to the TFC Battambang!
Big thanks to Cambodia Airports and the ITF!
The staff at TFC are very excited to announce that 2 schools in Battambang have been added to the family! This would not be possible without the help of Coach Irene Rehberger Bescos, who will act as the residing coach in Battambang. Having only been in the country for less than 3 months, we are very lucky to have found such a great person to run the tennis programs in the province of Battambang.
Kim Sua, lost his leg to a tumor. Crutch not holding him back one bit!
Just yesterday, Rithi Tep, Braen Aneiros, Vincent Oliver, and Phalkun Mam went to visit the former top 400 WTA player in her first week of action! The first school we visited, La Paloma, was a complete eye opener for us. The school is strictly for the disabled. Many of the students were born with deficient limbs, which drastically affects their mobility, some are even victims of accidents, accidents of which do not exclude stepping on land mines. The most recent land mine accident occurred only 3 weeks ago to a young teenage boy, who was actually present yesterday for the first time this week. Regardless of their disability, it did not hold them back. Whether in a wheelchair, or on crutches, they played with the same spirit of any player infatuated with the game of tennis. Each point, win or lose, was met by ooohhh's and aaahhh's by the others on the sidelines of the concrete court. The atmosphere surrounding the court not so very different than that of a grand slam final :)
It's amazing, in just their 3rd lesson, contact so fresh and so clean!
The second school we visited yesterday would take us to a small Parish founded by a bishop who arrived 30 years ago. Tanhen, situated about 20 minutes in a village just outside Battambang, across dirt roads, small creeks and some of the most beautiful rice fields I've ever seen in a setting so isolated and peaceful. Once on court we would find anything but peace and quiet. It was hard to rival our very own excitement, but the kids managed to do it with ease. We were met by roughly 20 kids bouncing up and down, each one itching at a chance to have a go at the mini Reds! Irene, clearly very good at what she does, ordered them into 2 lines, one hitting forehands, one backhands, and the rest is history!
The kids working on their hand-eye!
In our efforts at the TFC to spread this disease for tennis, it brings us so much joy to see these kids picking up balls and rackets for the very first time, and on top of that to see them truly enjoy themselves on whatever we are able to piece together to call a court. We couldn't have a more fulfilling job! With continued efforts we will push, and with the discovery of great coaches such as Irene, growth for the sport of tennis, in this Kingdom, is inevitable.
Mapito! Nice shirt! He even danced it for us!
Mony lunging for a ball in the corner! He's a great role model for the rest.
The no look! I swear we didn't teach him And1 Tennis, he's just a natural!
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