Seychelles a young tennis player joins the prestigious "Justine Henin Academy"
Victoria, Seychelles | September 29, 2016 @ 8:18 p.m. Thursday in In French » NEWS NATIONAL | By: Betymie Bonnelame and Séverine Martin | Views: 208
The Seychellois Damien Laporte came Thursday at the "Justine Henin Academy" in Belgium for a year. (Joe Laurence, Seychelles News Agency)
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( Seychelles News Agency ) - A young player tennis Seychelles is taking an important step to realize his dream of becoming a professional player by entering the Justine Henin Academy in Belgium for a year.
Damien Laporte , who left the Seychelles on Thursday accompanied by his parents, told the SNA: "I am very pleased to have this opportunity and I look forward to joining the academy. This is my dream come true. "
During an interview with ANS earlier this year, Laporte had said he hoped to one day enter an academy where he could train to become player tennis professional.
The young man aged 14 who is from the Seychelles, an archipelago in the western Indian Ocean, wrote a historic page of the island nation when he won the African championship of tennis Junior in March this year, which earned him to be ranked No. 1 in Africa for the category of players under 14 years. It is partly this feat that has been noticed by the tennis academy.
This is not the first time that Laporte through the doors of the Academy Justine Henin. Indeed, he has already completed an internship there in July.
The academy is the creation of Justine Henin , a former player of tennis Belgian, who opened the camp in 2007 in order to support, guide and develop a player regardless of age, level or its project .
Laporte told the SNA that he is ready to take the next step in his tennis career.
"I've traveled half my life abroad for tennis , therefore, it prepared me for this step. "
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Mervyn (right) is the one who initiated the court his son Damien in the very young age of three. (Joe Laurence, Seychelles News Agency) Photo License: CC-BY
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Parents of Laporte, who helped advance the career of their son, say they are proud of him.
"It is he who made all this hard work, and always perseveres despite his very young age," said his father Mervyn, who also plays tennis.
Mervyn said: "Today we are reaping the fruits of years of hard work, stress and sacrifice, but we hope this is just the beginning. Our son has talent, and we have always argued for he maintains because he has the tennis in the blood. "
Both parents accompanying Laporte for a week in Belgium . For Mervyn, cross academy's doors with her son is particularly important.
Laporte's mother, Marie-Josée told the SNA that his father never doubted this day would come.
"Despite the challenges, he worked hard in and out of courts tennis to help Damien. This is the number 1 Damien bear. Damien understands the sacrifices his family has made and he knows he has our full support. It will all miss us, but we want what's best for him. "
At only 14 years, Laporte still needs to focus on his studies. He will pay his tuition online during his tenure at the academy under the direction of a course facilitator to supervise and advise.
Besides his parents, Laporte receives aid from Seychelles National Sports Council (NSC), and some referrals. Marie-Josée said: "We would like to renew our call for sponsors as registration fees at the academy are quite high. In the end, Damien achievements are a success for Seychelles. "
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