Sports Academy tennis stars going from strength to strength

Junior tennis players from the Cape Winelands Sports Academy were once again recognised for their impressive performances and talent, with three called up to represent South Africa at international tournaments.

Carl Roothman and Maretha Burger have been selected to play at the African Junior Tennis Championships, which will be hosted by South Africa in February. Leigh van Zyl is a member of the national Under-16 team currently competing in the Southern Africa Championships in Namibia.

Carl and Leigh also represented South Africa at the Junior Davis Cup and Junior Fed Cup playoffs respectively in Algeria in June last year.

The Cape Winelands Sports Academy played a pivotal role in the success of the players by supporting them with high performance training, physiological support and nutrition.

The academy is one of seven run by the Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport (DCAS) throughout the Western Cape.

The others are:

• the Overberg District Academy in Bredasdorp

• the West Coast District Academy in Saldanha

• the Eden District Academy in George

• the Central Karoo Academy in Beaufort West

• the Cape Metropolitan Academy in Cape Town

• the Western Cape Sports Academy in Cape Town

The respective sports academies work closely with local sports federations in their districts to identify talented young sportspeople for induction into the programmes.

DCAS works to provide sport and recreation opportunities across the Western Cape, building better communities and better athletes, BETTER TOGETHER.