Interview with Sergi Bruguera on volunteering with the Acell Federation

Since when have you been collaborating with the players of the Acell Federation?

I have been actively collaborating since the day I retired. While I was on the tour, I had the opportunity to collaborate occasionally with them. I was asked to do the Special Olympics announcement in 1992 and that was the starting point, since then whenever there was an opportunity, I volunteered to help. This included helping in the organization of a championship or attending the award ceremonies or sharing a clinic with them. As soon as I retired, I offered to get involved with them on a day-to-day basis. They mentioned to me that there was no tennis special academy, so I gathered efforts to get the first one in place. Almost every sport had its own training centre, but they had an unmet need. We established the first training centre and this has grown throughout the years. Acell was the supporting federation for the special players and the pioneer in organizing Special Olympics Catalonia. They received the support of the national organization for the international competition.

What does collaborate with them mean to you?

It has meant a lot to me. The experiences I have had with them are magical and it is unlikely to get them through anything else in life. I love them because they are authentic with no ulterior motives. Everything is about enjoyment, and the impact you have on their personality development is very enriching. They gain confidence, self-assurance, and it is very fulfilling.

How often do these special players practice?

They practice once a week on Thursdays, and occasionally there are championships in Catalonia, Spain, and every four years, the Special Olympics Games are organized for them.

During these training sessions, do you focus uniquely on sport, or do you also try to impart other values?

We focus on making it the best hour of the week for them. If something comes up in a conversation, we take advantage of it, but we focus on them enjoying the training. We start with gymnastics to warm up, joke around, then of course train and improve technically, but we concentrate on making the game fun. Our goal is to make it the best hour of the week for them.

For them, participating in a clinic like the one offered by the Potter Cup, what do you think it means?

It means a lot to them. Generally, they have few social opportunities, and the chance to feel like just another person at an event is greatly appreciated. At that moment, they feel like a part of society, which is incredibly valuable to them. Sharing the court with well-known players makes them feel important. They love it, always keep it on their memory and helps them personally.

Sergi, you know that the philanthropic area of the IC Council supports different projects worldwide. If a meeting of philanthropic project leaders were to be held, would you be willing to dedicate some time to share experiences?

Yes, of course, I love collaborating with these kinds of projects. In the past, I spent time visiting prison to train there and have done other types of collaborations. I am willing to help. I feel very privileged for the opportunities I have had in life, and I believe it's my duty to give something back to the sport that has given me so much.

Thank you Sergi, keep it up….

IC SA AND ETHIOPIA SET FOR FINAL DAY SHOW DOWN.

After both IC SA and Ethiopia comfortably won their second day matches, they will meet in tomorrows final with both teams unbeaten after two matches. 

IC SA proved far too strong for the TSA Development team where only one match showed any real resistance from the Development team. In the battle between the two top girls IC SA’s Christine Kruger suffered a loss of confidence in the second set but with the pro set tie break left to decide the winner, Christine regained her composure and found her range to drop just a single point in the tie break to run out a 62 36 10 1 winner. 

In the other matches the Development team was never really in contention with the hosts conceding just six games over the five matches. It has been a steep learning curve for the Development players but the more they are exposed to this level of tennis, the quicker they will learn to adapt to more competitive tournament play.

It was a similar situation when Ethiopia came up against Botswana with just one match providing some excitement and a closely fought encounter. Their second boy Yosph Gezhafe showed tremendous fighting qualities to recover from the loss of the first set 16 to come out on top in a closely fought second set which was only secured 74 in the resultant tie break, and then held his nerve to take the deciding tie break 10 7. In the other five matches, Ethiopia dropped just nine games.

So a fitting end to the event with the two strongest teams going toe to toe to decide the winner. Ethiopia will be hoping to burst the IC SA teams bubble which has proved too solid in all previous qualifying events for the right to represent the continent at the world wide finals.

A Development clinic was held during the day with children from the four local Townships taking part in both the red ball training and full court training. Ages ranged from 7 to 13 and the coaching was enhanced with the participation of the coaches of both the IC SA and TSA Development team taking a part as well some of the players,

Full results of the days play are;

Ethiopia beat Botswana by 6 matches to nil.

BOYS SINGLES

O. Gemeda beat Seabo Shakshando 64 61 

Y Gezhafe beat A Bleskirk 16 76 (4) 10 7.

GIRLS SINGLES

M Adone beat L Poely 62 61

S Kasaune beat A Chongwe 60 60

BOYS DOUBLES

Ethiopia beat Botswana 60 61

GIRLS SINGLES 

Ethiopia beat Botswana 60 60.

IC SA beat TSA Development by 6 matches to nil

BOYS SINGLES

C Roothman beat T Chiloane 62 61

M Woodman beat M Masombuka 60 61

GIRS SINGLES

C Kruger beat A Makoala 62 36 10 1

N Manybi beat C Mogale 60 60

BOYS DOUBLES

IC SA beat TSA Development 60 61

GIRLS DOUBLES

IC SA beat TSA Development 60 61.