Monrovia— The Liberia National Olympic Committee (LNOC), with support from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and Olympic Solidarity, on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, launched a 12-day Coaches Beginner and Intermediate (CBI) course for technicians and officials of the Liberia Tennis Federation (LTF).
The capacity-building program, taking place at the Samuel Kanyon Doe (SKD) Sports Complex in Paynesville, brings together local referees, desk officers, and technical personnel.
The initiative aims to equip participants with modern coaching and officiating skills to foster the growth of lawn tennis across Liberia.
Officially opening the workshop, LNOC President Cllr. Sylvester Rennie stated that upgrading the capacity of sports administrators and technicians across all national federations has been a top priority for his administration since assuming office in 2025.
Cllr. Rennie noted that the training is fully funded by Olympic Solidarity, following an assessment of the need to elevate Liberian coaches to continental standards through quality instruction, professional mentorship, and technical exposure.
He revealed that while the LNOC had targeted eight technical courses across various sports disciplines under its quarterly development plan, some programs were delayed due to slow engagement between national federation leaderships and the LNOC secretariat.
Addressing federation heads, the LNOC president urged active collaboration with the secretariat to ensure scheduled training programs are executed smoothly in 2027 ahead of the 2028 Olympic Games.
“During an Olympic year, the focus of Olympic governing bodies shifts primarily toward the successful execution of the Games without distraction,” Cllr. Rennie explained, emphasizing the urgency of completing technical trainings well in advance.
He encouraged participants to approach the course with dedication, positioning themselves to become future tutors and mentors for emerging Liberian talent.
The 12-day intensive course is being facilitated by renowned Nigerian tennis expert Akinloye Rotimi, who returns to Liberia 18 years after conducting a similar technical mission.
Rotimi urged participants to maximize the fully funded opportunity, noting that such certifications are costly in other jurisdictions.
Sharing his journey in tennis spanning over three decades as a top Nigerian national athlete, continental player, certified coach, and international tutor Rotimi emphasized that success in sports administration requires discipline and continuous learning.
“Eighteen years ago, I was here offering a similar course, with some of you participating,” Rotimi recalled. “I would love to see participants from this cohort step up to serve as tutors for the next generation of Liberian coaches.”
He highlighted that acquiring standard certification reduces the need for local federations to rely on foreign experts, while improving national game administration, player coordination, and match management.
The training is hosted at the Taekwondo Hall inside the SKD Sports Complex, combining theoretical sessions with practical court exercises designed to address modern match management and daily coaching challenges.
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