Al-Qalam 
The aim of the club is to encourage the youth to play tennis, to promote well-being and to strengthen brotherhood, writes an Al-Qalam Reporter.
What started out as just a social club for a group of friends to play tennis has grown into an annual national event on the Durban sporting calendar.
The tennis Club hosted its 11th annual doubles tennis tournament at Westridge Stadium in Durban recently. The tournament was sponsored by the Lenmed Shifa Hospital.
“The Racqueteers Tennis Club is an amateur club that was started by a group of friends who are medical specialists and businessmen. We decided to take tennis to the community and we then started hosting a tournament 11 years ago,” said club member, Dr. Mohamed Sacoor.
Sacoor said when he first started playing with the club, it was more of a social opportunity for him. “We used to meet once a week and play tennis. From being school friends, it continued. That’s how we formed the club and registered it. It was just a mutual interest between a few friends that got the club going,” said Sacoor.
The members then decide to get the community involved by creating a platform like the annual tournament for people to participate.
He said when they initially started the tournament, it was a Durban-only tournament and then it became quite popular. The club started receiving countrywide entries for participation.
“We received entries from Polokwane and other places. And for the last eight years, it has now become a tournament that attracts national entries. This year, we had 76 pairs that registered for the tournament. We had an A-section and a B-section. We also catered to those who would like to just play socially and weren’t as competitive or good at the sport. We put them into the B-section so they could enjoy a good day of tennis,” said Sacoor.
This year’s Platinum winners at the event were brothers Ziyaad and Tameem Kardamey from Johannesburg.
“The tournament was a huge success and was attended by players from all over the country. There was a lovely atmosphere where the families enjoyed good tennis and were able to socialise with each other. The members said that the level of tennis was very high and that the bar is being set higher each year,” said Sacoor.
He said although the Racqueteers Tennis Club is an amateur club, the aim of the club is to encourage the youth to play tennis and to promote health and well-being. It is also to encourage and strengthen brotherhood and to uplift the game of tennis.
“Over the last few years, the club found it necessary to share their passion for tennis with the extended community. The tournament was supported by Lancet laboratories, Xpedient, Drs Marsha Maharaj, Dr Motala Pathologists, Dr D. Agjee and Partners Anesthetists, Mr Ameen Jamal, Checkmart and Gem Schoolwear,” said Sacoor.
Sacoor said the club was fortunate to get a lot of assistance.
“It’s all about the meeting, getting together, making friends, and socialising with one another. Life is too short. If you’re meeting over physical activity, there’s nothing better and healthier than to do so,” said Sacoor.
He added that he would like to play tribute to the club’s chairman Bilal Rawat who put this year’s tournament together and was instrumental in the club’s progress over the last few years.
