ALLOWING a younger generation of stakeholders in Philippine tennis to contribute to the growth of the sport should be encouraged.
A top official of the International Tennis Federation said this following a meeting with the board of trustees of the Philippine Tennis Association and sports leaders of the Philippine Olympic Committee.
“After having served the country so well, there is a need for change and have more reforms in order to have a larger involvement from the many stakeholders. I think it’s a very important step. We must involve the players, the coaches, the clubs and so many others. Because that’s the only way tennis will grow in every country,” said ITF Vice President Anil Khanna.
Khanna, who came to Manila on behalf of ITF president David Haggerty, was around after the board members of the Philta sought the return of Paranaque mayor Edwin Olivarez.
The former Philta president is returning to help institute much needed reforms that will involve more stakeholders in the sport.
The presence of the former president in the board of trustees was sought following a special board meeting of the Philta with Khanna and officials of the Philippine Olympic Committee.
Olivarez will sit as the chairman of the committee that will draft amendments, discuss reforms and help initiate the reform process that the Philippine tennis body will undertake within the next two years.
The mayor was present to hear the suggestions forwarded to Khanna, who attended with POC president Jose “Peping” Cojuangco Jr. and secretary general Steve Hontiveros.
Cojuangco and Hontiveros came to the meeting not in recognition of the new leadership of the Philta, but to witness the reforms and talks that are being undertaken within the organization.
“There is unanimity in the decision. The POC president has suggested and requested that Mayor Olivarez and the new president of Philta make amendments on the constitution and bylaws of the Philta immediately,” said Khanna.
Presidential adviser Antonio Cablitas was at the meeting at the Sheraton Hotel that was also attended by Philta officials Salvador Andrada, Manuel and Martin Misa, and Julito Villanueva.
Businessman-sportsman Jean Henri Lhuillier, who has been involved in a bitter dispute for the leadership of the organization, and another Philta official Randy Villanueva were absent from the meeting.
Cablitas and Olivarez will work together to bring all stakeholders, and discuss the reforms, and continue activities like the holding of tournaments, and the formation of the national teams in the junior division, the women’s and the men’s team for the Davis Cup.
The 68-year-old Cablitas, who is President Rodrigo Duterte’s adviser on investments, said the reform process will take less than two years.
“We have agreed to introduce reforms. Everybody is clamoring for that,” remarked Cablitas.
Hontiveros said they have guidelines to follow, and the recognition of Cablitas as the Philta president needs the approval of the General Assembly.
“The guidelines for recognition as NSAs were not followed. We can’t recognize the new president. But we want to observe this meeting that is about reunification,” added Hontiveros.