SLTA Hires Foreign Coach

SRI Lanka’s junior tennis players will benefit from the services of a well-credentialed foreign coach.
The SLTA included Abraham Ibrahim, from Syria, into its cadre of coaches last week. He will be on a one-year contract and be a part of the SLTA coaching team headed K D Pathiraja.
The Syrian’s last assignment was coaching the ITF Under-14 West Asian team. As well, he was head coach of a tennis academy in Cairo. Much of his job has been coaching junior players, though in 2010 he coached the Iranian Davis Cup team that won promotion to Group Two.
“Since he has a lot of experience with the juniors, it makes sense to deploy him in the field of junior development,” said Ravi Perera, SLTA Secretary. “Junior tennis in Negombo and Batticaloa is very active and I am sure Ibrahim will be useful in further developing tennis there.”
Ibrahim was a Davis Cup representative for Syria, and no.1 in his country from 2002 to 2005. His best ITF ranking was 301.
The SLTA will meet all the expenses of Ibrahim’s one-year job here. “We’’ raise the money from sponsors as well as a promised grant from the Sport Ministry,” said Iqbal bin Issack, President SLTA. “It is a wonderful opportunity to raise the levels of our junior tennis and I am sure the players will benefit.”