A young tennis player from Kenwyn is making his family and community proud as he gears up to compete at an international tournament this week.
On Saturday, Imaad Taliep, 11, will jet off to New Orleans, USA, after receiving his SA colours and making the Tennis South Africa (TSA) primary school team.
Imaad and his young brother, Raadi, 11, have been trained by their father Faizel, 40, since they were just six years old and have won several TSA tournaments.
Faizel, a former tennis player, says the two learners from Sunlands Primary School practise daily and have both landed sponsorships from French sports equipment manufacturer, Tecnifibre.
Earlier this year, Imaad compe-
ted in the Western Province tournament where he was ranked among the top eight players.
He was then selected to play in the inter-provincial tournament where he earned his SA colours and has been selected for the South African U13 team.
“Imaad has won three TSA tournaments and is in the platinum group. Raadi has won gold three times at the TSA tournaments and will also be moving to the platinum group at only nine years old,” the proud dad says.
Imaad will be touring the USA for two weeks where he will play against various junior players.
Imaad says he hopes to do his parents proud in the USA.
“I am very excited to go. This is my first trip and it is all because of my daddy who coached me from the very first day. I want to make my parents proud,” the excited little boy says.
The brothers, members of the Claremont Tennis Club, say their favourite player is Rafael Nadal and hope to play like him one day.
“We like Nadal, he is our favourite because we like the way he plays. I am very proud of my boeta,” says Raadi.
Faizel says his sons’ dedication has been the key to their success.
“Myself and my wife, Thaania, are very proud of them. They are very dedicated and practise every day,” he adds.