PTF should generate revenue: Suresh

KARACHI: International Tennis Federation’s Development Officer for Asia Suresh Menon has suggested to Pakistan Tennis Federation (PTF) to develop its own sources of funding.

Talking about his recommendations regarding infrastructure in his report after his recent visit to Pakistan, Suresh said: “I firmly believe the PTF must generate its own sources of funding and remain self reliant to meet its operational commitments.” 

He stated this in the wake of PTF’s plan of constructing four new courts at the PTF centre and to upgrade the facility. The plan is to generate more revenue through increased membership and high membership fees by offering better services.

This will also generate more revenue to meet operational costs of running PTF. “However, before PTF undertakes this project, PTF should determine if this project would be a good return in investment. It’s more important to first determine if the present courts at the PTF facility are fully being utilised,” said Suresh.  

Suresh said he found many of the courts empty throughout the day and much in the evening during his visit. He suggested upgrading the four lighted courts.

He also recommended creating more adults programmes like tennis express and cardio tennis. “PTF would be in the best position to know what works well in a country like Pakistan taking into consideration its norms and customs,” said Suresh.

Due to the limited public tennis facilities in Pakistan, he added, PTF could consider building tennis courts in a city which has no public tennis courts. “This is required especially when PTF plans to introduce the JTI programme and would want the school children to be in the follow-up programme at a PTF tennis facility,” said Suresh.  He said PTF could apply for an ITF GSDF facility grant for this project to be considered.