Draft Press Release for print and electronic media
2007 TECU Junior Tennis Tournament

This year’s TECU sponsored junior tennis tournament plays off at the scenic tennis courts of the Petrotrin Pointe-a-Pierre Club from 18th to 22nd July. The tennis courts are located in the vicinity of the clubhouse and an eighteen hole golf course, where seniors can enjoy a relaxing round of golf while the juniors are busy competing on the tennis courts.

The tournament is being run by the South Zone of the Tennis Federation of Trinidad and Tobago (TFTT), formerly known as the Tennis Association of Trinidad and Tobago (TATT). It is the only major annual junior tennis tournament held in the south and is the testing ground of the top south juniors who move on to become  national players and earn scholarships to play tennis and study at universities abroad.

South tennis players who have “cut their teeth” at this tournament which has been held for the past 20 years at this venue include the following players who went on to represent T&T at either the Senior or Junior level:- Brian and Burt Khan, Simon Evelyn, Karen Greenidge, Susan Garanito, Randy Hakim, Dexter Mahase, Arvinda Maharaj, Andre and Leslie Moore, David and Shenelle Mohammed, Keneel Teesdale and Trevine Sellier.

The TECU Credit Union Co-operative Society Limited is very pleased and proud to be associated with this event which they have sponsored for the past three years to the tune of over $50,000.00. Many members and their children play tennis at the venue and they are extremely glad at the opportunity to compete at this national “south based” tournament. Graeme Jones, son of President of TECU, Ronnie Jones, will be defending his Senior Boys’ doubles crown with Dirk Ramdial.

Jack Su of Tobago will lead the Tobago contingent. He is expected to return to defend the Under 18 Boys’ singles event. Other last year winners are:- Chad Piralli - Under 12 Boys’ singles, No.1 ranked U14 national junior Rick Ramlochan – Under 14 Boys, No.1 ranked U16 national junior Raval Deonarine – Under 16 Boys’ singles, Rick Ramlochan and Shaquille Bernard – Junior Boys’ doubles, Nalini Maharaj – Under 14 Girls’ singles, Keneel Teesdale – Under 18 Girls’ singles. 15 year old Teesdale recently trounced “Catch” national U18 finalist, Carlista Mohammed, in the final of the Sagicor U18 event.
Nalini Maharaj and Trevine Sellier – Senior Girls’ doubles. Sellier is the “Catch” national U14 Girl’s singles and doubles champion. Both Teesdale and Sellier are coached at Point Fortin, by Raffeek Mohammed, father and coach of national player Shenelle Mohammed. Former national champion, Lennox Francis, head coach at the Pointe a Pierre tennis courts, is the coach of Piralli, Bernard, Deonarine and the Ramlochans.

The TECU Junior Tournament has become more than just a competition among the players for top honors, since many south coaches anxiously look forward each year to the performance of their students at this annual event.  
Entries close on Friday 13th July, 2007. Entry forms can be obtained from the tournament website, http://www.tennistt.org, all major tennis clubs or Harry’s Sports World, St.James street, San Fernando. Phone 678 1685 for further information.