Tennis coach's 24-hour match for charity

A tennis coach is playing a 24-hour match to raise funds to introduce children in Kosovo to the game.

David Bryceland, from Altrincham, Greater Manchester, volunteered at a summer camp in Podujeva, in the north of the country, in 2016 and said he was shocked by the lack of sport.

He has taken on several challenges since then - including a triathlon - for Manchester Aid to Kosovo (MAK) to help pay for an all-weather tennis court.

The 34-year-old said: "There were no leisure facilities of any sort, and the buildings were riddled with bullet holes."

"When I got there, I couldn’t believe what I was seeing," he said.

"It was unbelievable; a truly humbling experience."

He is aiming to play against opponents at Bowdon Bowling & Lawn Tennis Club until 18:00 BST.

The project to build the tennis court started in 2016 after the first summer camp.

Mr Bryceland, who coaches at Bowdon Bowling & Lawn Tennis Club and Hale Village Tennis Club, has continued to visit Kosovo, along with groups of 16-18-year-old volunteers from schools around Altrincham.

They have been teaching children tennis mainly on makeshift courts in car parks, using ropes as nets and cones to mark out the courts.

“As it’s been such a big and positive part of my life, I decided we had to introduce tennis into the community there," he said.

He said the court was the "only one in the whole northern region of Kosovo".

"When you consider Altrincham alone has over six tennis clubs plus courts at schools, you start to appreciate how fortunate youngsters in this area are."

The Covid pandemic delayed construction but the court at Podujeva Peace Park is now almost built with Mr Bryceland hoping this latest fundraiser will get the last £5,000 needed to complete it.

He added: "I truly believe sport can transform lives. Every year when I go over, I see the difference our efforts make to the health and wellbeing of the kids we coach.

"I still find it hard to believe that without our efforts they would never have been exposed to tennis at all, let alone had a chance to play it.”

He is apprehensive about the 24-hour tennis marathon though after he suffered exhaustion and dehydration attempting a similar challenge in 2019.

However, he said: "Since then I've built up my stamina and I’m much more sensible about taking on liquid so am confident I’ll complete the challenge."

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