Meet Modise, Noordwyk’s tennis pro

NOORDWYK – Tsepo Modise, a full-time tennis player and coach from Midrand and his doubles partner, Michael Fooley recently played at the Gauteng East Tennis Association Seniors Interpro 2015 in Benoni and obtained second place.

November 25, 2015

Nokuthula Sonile 1 minute read

Photo: Bonolo Modise Tsepo Modise receives an award from Teboho Mofokeng , tournament director at Vaal University of Technology for the Easter Tennis Classic Tournament.

Modise, who is originally from Mahikeng in the North West, said he was born into a tennis-loving family. “I started playing tennis when I was 12, at Mmabatho Tennis Centre in Mahikeng, although at some point in my life I stopped and played softball for a very long time until I decided to come back to tennis.”

Modise, who studied human resources at the Vaal University of Technology (VUT), then decided to take a completely different career route and became a full-time tennis player and coach.

As co-founder of Kulani Youth Sports Development, Modise said he would encourage any young person to take up any sport, but tennis is a great activity that provides a variety of benefits other than physical activity. He stated that participation in sports can help build self-esteem and confidence, can motivate and even and can help build social skills.

He said he also works with Petros Abraham in Rooihuiskraal, who has committed himself to changing the lives of young people through sports. “He has taken many under-privileged children and those who can afford to pay, and introduced them to tennis, using his own money. I coach for him at a stipend,” said Modise.

The tennis pro is in the process of launching a Tennis Development Centre in Waverly in partnership with The AT Tennis Group, to help young people develop tennis skills.

Modise said he is proud of how far he has taken his tennis career. “My achievements have been phenomenal, both as a player and as a coach. I’ve played lots of Tennis South Africa tournaments and I have proved many critics wrong,” he said.

Modise said he was: