Ghanaian shipping and logistics giant, McDan Company Limited, has donated GH¢50,000 for the refurbishment of the tennis courts at the Accra Sports Stadium ahead of the annual McDan Open championship on April 24,2017.
A visit by the Executive Chairman of McDan Shipping, Dr. Daniel McKorley, accompanied by the Director of Technical at the National Sports Authority, Joshua Mensah, to the venue, revealed widespread damages to the playing court, wire fencing and the seats with only a fortnight to the fourth edition of the tournament.
Donating the money to officials of the Ghana Tennis Federation, Dr. McKorley bemoaned the current state of the facility and pledged his outfit’s total support in helping to manage and maintain it.
He disclosed that McDan Shipping and Logistics will consider adopting the venue as part of their commitment in promoting tennis in the country.
“Ahead of the start of the 2017 McDan Open on April 24, McDan is here inspecting the court and I am promising to adopt this court and make sure it is in a good state. We will come and renovate it and make sure we keep it running year after year,” Dr McKorley pledged.
The one-week tournament is expected to attract avid tennis players and fans in Ghana and across Africa to savour the very best of tennis. Nigeria’s Michael Moses will be hoping to defend his crown in this year’s edition which will see the winner walk away with GH¢10,000.
The winner of this year’s edition will take home a total prize package of $10,000, which enormously surpasses that of last season’s prize money – a move headline sponsor McDan shipping with support from the Ghana Tennis Federation (GTF) and the Confederation of Africa Tennis (CAT) believes will whip up the excitement.
“This year we are expecting an extraordinary tournament because we want Ghana tennis to improve. There has been complains of financial constraint so McDan, who deals in shipping and logistics has come forward to assist as part of our social responsibility.”
The championship has now gained popularity across Africa and beyond with last year recording over 200 registrants participants from Nigeria, Benin, Togo, Burkina Faso, Cameroon and Cote d’Ivoire which is indicative of the high interest in the event and Mr. Mckorley “hopes to get double of last year.”
Registration is currently ongoing at the Ghana Tennis Federation (GTF) and will end on April 21, 2017
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