A subregional tennis championship for Under-14 players ended in Banjul over the weekend.
The tournament featured young players from The Gambia, Senegal and Guinea-Bissau in a competition aimed at promoting youth development, sporting excellence and regional integration through sports.
The three-day tournament, organised by the Gambia Lawn Tennis Association (GLTA) in collaboration with the Ecowas Regional Competitions Authority (ERCA) and the Ecowas Youth and Sports Development Centre (EYSDC), took place from 6th to 8th November, 2026, at the Independence Stadium in Bakau.
The competition featured boys and girls competing for honours, with organisers describing the event as an important platform for nurturing young talents, strengthening regional cooperation and building relationships among young people across Ecowas member states.
The executive director of ERCA, Dr Simeon K Koffi, commended the organisers and participating countries for making the tournament possible, describing the initiative as an important achievement in the promotion of regional integration through sports.
He said the collaboration demonstrated how sports could bring young people together and encourage cooperation among Ecowas member states.
Koffi expressed appreciation to the GLTA, security personnel, sponsors and other stakeholders for their contributions to the successful organisation of the tournament.
He also acknowledged the participation of The Gambia, Senegal and Guinea-Bissau, noting that the gathering provided an opportunity for young athletes to showcase their talents while developing friendships across national borders.
He further expressed Ecowas’s commitment to supporting initiatives that promote youth empowerment and development across the region, particularly in The Gambia.
The Vice President of the Gambia Lawn Tennis Association, Julius Freeman, described the competition as one of the best tournaments he had witnessed, commending the players for their performances throughout the three days.
Freeman said the tournament had demonstrated the abundance of talent among young tennis players in the participating countries.
“I think we have all witnessed history today or these past three days because, for the years that I have been witnessing competitions or tournaments, I think this is one of the best tournaments that we have witnessed,” he said.
He expressed gratitude to the sponsors, coaches, players, organisations and institutions that supported the competition, particularly the Ecowas Regional Competitions Authority and the Youth and Sports Development Centre.
Freeman said the association was hopeful that the partnership would continue and that the tournament would become an annual fixture to support the growth of tennis in The Gambia.
He also encouraged the young players to remain committed to the sport, develop their skills and work towards becoming professional tennis players in their respective countries.
Meanwhile, members of The Gambian team have called on the government to increase investment in sports development and provide greater support to young athletes to enable them to compete at regional and international levels.
They stressed that greater government commitment, particularly in providing facilities, training opportunities and other essential resources, would help young Gambian athletes develop their potential and compete favourably with their counterparts.
Players from the participating countries too expressed satisfaction with the opportunity to compete in the tournament, describing it as an exciting experience that allowed them to demonstrate their abilities and interact with other young athletes.
They further emphasised that participation in sports did not have to come at the expense of education, noting that their academic development remained a priority alongside their sporting ambitions.
According to them, education is essential to their future, and they were committed to maintaining a balance between their studies and sporting activities.
The tournament concluded with the presentation of trophies, medals and certificates to outstanding teams and participants.
The competition also featured cash prizes for the top three teams in both the boys’ and girls’ categories.
The winning teams in the boys’ and girls’ categories each received $1,500, while the runners-up received $1,000 each. Teams finishing in third place were awarded $800 each.
The tournament’s proceedings, including the presentation of the competition report and other closing activities, were handled by Reverend Daniel Thomas.
The successful completion of the competition marks another step towards strengthening youth tennis development and sporting cooperation among Ecowas member states.
With organisers expressing optimism about making the tournament an annual event, the competition is expected to provide a lasting platform for identifying young talents, encouraging sporting excellence and deepening regional integration through tennis.
The President of the Gambia Lawn Tennis Association (GLTA), Saul Fraser, expressed delight at hosting the 14 & Under Sub-Regional Tennis Championship, describing the competition as an important platform for promoting friendship, discipline, determination and opportunities for young athletes.
Welcoming the participating teams from Senegal and Guinea-Bissau to The Gambia, Fraser said the tournament was about much more than tennis, noting that it was an opportunity to strengthen regional ties and inspire the next generation of athletes.
Addressing the young players, he encouraged them to remain committed to their dreams, stressing that hard work, consistency and the courage to persevere were essential qualities for success.
“Every champion you admire today was once a young player, just like you, standing on the court with a racket, a dream and the determination to succeed,” he said.
He reminded the participants that winning was not everything, urging them to focus on learning, improving and becoming better players each day, regardless of the outcome of their matches.
Fraser reaffirmed the association’s commitment to creating opportunities for young tennis talents to be discovered, developed and given exposure to competitions beyond their borders.
He also expressed appreciation to the sponsors, coaches, parents, volunteers and other stakeholders whose contributions made the tournament possible.
