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Alice CarrollA tennis coach said he was “delighted” to officially open an all-weather court in Kosovo after spending almost a decade fundraising for it.
David Bryceland, from Altrincham, Greater Manchester, volunteered at a summer camp in Podujeva, in the north of the country, in 2016 and was shocked by the lack of sport.
Since then he said he has raised more than £20,000 on several challenges, including a 24-hour tennis marathon for Manchester Aid to Kosovo (MAK) to help fund what the Kosova Tennis Federation said was the region’s first tennis court, in Podujeva Peace Park.
The 35-year-old said it had been a “real labour of love” and he was honoured to make the first serve on the “court for the people”.
The Municipality of PodujevaMAK said the opening of the court was a “historic moment”.
It said the court would bring joy to Podujeva as well as improve residents’ health and fitness levels.
The charity praised Mr Bryceland for his “colossal fundraising efforts” and said he had been the “catalyst” for an inclusive programme of free tennis there.
MAK described him as a “champ” in every respect.
The coach at Hale Village Tennis Club and Bowdon Bowling & Lawn Tennis Club said he was inspired to volunteer at a summer camp organised by MAK after meeting Saranda Bogujevci when she was living in Greater Manchester.
Ms Bogujevci, who was shot 16 times and six of her family killed, has since become an MP in her homeland.
Mr Bryceland said: “When I got there, I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. There were no leisure facilities of any sort, and the buildings were riddled with bullet holes.”
He said: “It was unbelievable, a truly humbling experience.
“There was hardly any sport at the summer camp, so I decided to introduce tennis.”
He has returned ever since with a group of volunteers from the Altrincham area, and taught tennis on makeshift courts in car parks, using ropes as nets and cones to mark out the space.
“Clearly, this wasn’t ideal so I decided to start raising money to build a proper court,” he said.
“A town like Altrincham has over six tennis clubs plus courts at schools, and we’re talking one court in the whole of north Kosovo.
“You start to appreciate why I felt so moved to do something.
“Every year when we go over, we see the difference our efforts make to the health and wellbeing of the kids we coach.
“It’s so rewarding and I couldn’t be more delighted we’ve finally achieved our aim and the court is officially open,” he added.
‘Oasis of joy’
Alice Carroll, who is also a friend of Ms Bogujevci, has supported Mr Bryceland’s fundraising efforts by dealing with all the red tape with various authorities to get approval for the court.
She said they are now working with the Kosova Tennis Federation to build more courts, a clubhouse and train a permanent coach.
“We’d also love to run a twinning programme with the clubs in and around Altrincham,” she said.
“This is just the start and we hope that one day Wimbledon will welcome its first player from Kosovo,” she added.
The Municipality of PodujevaMAK added: “Starting from a desolate clay field and the dream of children displaced by conflict, the Peace Park has evolved from the most horrific of situations into an oasis of joy.”
Jeton Hadërgjonaj, president of the Kosova Tennis Federation said: “This court will be the impetus and inspiration for many children and young people to play… tennis, to have fun and achieve the best results in it.”
He added Mr Bryceland, Ms Carroll and the rest of the team involved in helping Podujeva getting its first tennis court “will remain our friends forever and will be part of the history of tennis in Kosova”.
