TEACHING THE NEXT GENERATION OF PLAYERS

The aim of WOKE INTERNATIONAL TENNIS ACADEMY (WITA) is to promote tennis, and help grow the game by teaching the next generation of players.

It is our mission to provide every opportunity for players to succeed.

By using WITA's positive approach to the game, players in our programs will fall in love with tennis and stick to it for life, whether as a career or a weekend activity.

For kids this is the age to start healthy habits and active fitness attitudes among kids, tennis is a sport filled with fitness benefits!

Whether it is training future tennis stars for a college scholarship or just helping them enjoy a healthy fun activity that sharpens their athletic activity. The WITA Tennis Program teaches the fundamentals of tennis by organising fun and challenging games and tennis orientated activities and then practising them together, for Adults and Kids.

WITA Tennis Parties are an exciting new party option for children on their 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th birthdays.

Suitable for both boys and girls our parties ensure that every child enjoys a fun and active party, and they may even pick up a few tennis skills in the process.

Our parties are perfect if you are looking for something different to do for your child’s birthday, WITA Tennis Parties are hosted by experienced, fully trained and insured coaches, all of whom are DBS checked for your piece of mind.

We go the extra mile to ensure that your child's special day is happy and momentous. Our expertises in children’s tennis coaching, together with our caring and fun approach to teaching, make us the ideal party facilitator. We will be attentive to you and your child's needs, offering you a five star service.

What WITA Tennis Party involves:

• Great fun and games with plenty of action
• For girls and boys aged 3-8
• Warm, positive and fun-filled environment
• Special gift for the Birthday Boy or Girl
• Invitations, prizes and goody bags can be provided For up to 30 children

Make your child’s birthday extra special with a WITA Tennis party!

Demand for our parties is high; hence as soon as possible book your child's birthday for this year once you have dates - so you are not disappointed!

Please; note party room, food and drinks are catered for - on request, with additional cost!

Prices

• £300 for a party of up to 6 people
• £400 for a party of up to 12 people
• £460 for a party of 13 to 18 people
• £520 for a party of 19 to 24 people

Our fantastic parties last one hour ( if longer time is required this can be worked on a pro rate basis) : its vital attendees arrive on time-late starts-leading to later finish, may incur extra charges.

Ekow Yusuf Manly-Spain is a certified/ Licensed PTR, LTA-level 4 Senior Performance Coach, RPT Professional Tennis Director.

Coach Ekow Yusuf Manly-Spain, has obtained certification from the ITF Academy coach program , in the following disciplines;- Coaching Beginners & Intermediate Player course introduction, Introduction to Competition, Introduction to different types of drills, CBI Players course - Strategy & Tactics, CBI Teaching Mythology, Play Tennis course Introduction, Introduction to Equipment, Training Female Tennis Players, knowing yourself as a Coach, Ethics in Coaching, Variability in tennis training, Tennis Periodisation, Tennis Xpress Fundamentals of teaching tennis to Adult Players, Introduction to Tennis 10’s, Player Development, Contemporary coaching techniques, Introduction to Communication 1 & 2 and Match data for tactical analysis.

As a professional player Ekow competed on the European and African Tournament circuits; later becoming a full-time professional coach in 1991.

Ekow gained his coaching experience through working with the UK's most renowned coaches assisting with Junior county players, national and international players. He coaches all level of players, from beginners (Junior and Adults) to touring professional; specialising in Bio-mechanical correction/analysis, tactical/mental awareness corrections, cardio-tennis and tennis specific strength and conditioning.

With over 27 years of experience Ekow has been in contact with some of the best and talented juniors in the world. Notable individuals include Sri Lankan player; Tim De Abrew, number #1 in his country, Egyptian player Bassam Beides (top ten in Egypt. In 2002), and the four top female players in Ghana; #1, 2, 3, & 4. Ekow worked with player Jon Leslie; Princeton) who was practice partner to Former World number one junior ( Donald Young Jr.);and other players representing Ivy League colleges in the U.S.A

Coaching CV:

• Assistant Head coach Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea
• Head Coach City of Westminster
• Head Coach City of London Cooperation( Golden Lane site)
• Head Coach Elmwood Tennis Club
• Senior coach Hyde Park Sporting Club
• Senior Coach Excel Pro Tennis
• Resident Coach Dolphin Square
• Head coach Paddington Recreation grounds, David Lloyd and Lifetime Tennis

Being a dedicated Performance coach, when he got a chance to work with some of the best juniors in London's inner city, he took it; joining a team of coaches at the Westway Indoor Tennis Centre, in 1995. he later went on to become Head Coach at Exportise Sports Camps, founded by former Olympic gold medallist Steve Bachelor and his co-founder Dutch Olympian Bram Van Asset, running sports camps at some of England's finest independent schools, his responsibilities was to oversee the Pro-tennis camp, which was tailored for the dedicated tennis player, intensive coaching, match play, and detailed technical analysis, including video assessments.

Ekow has worked with former England Women's Team manager, Sue Mappin, who co-ordinated what was the largest grass roots programme in the UK, known as the Cliff Richard tennis Foundation, founded by Sir Cliff Richard. Before she became head of the lta tennis foundation. Ekow also travelled around the U.K( introducing mini tennis into schools) with Paul Regan who was head of coaching education at the tennis foundation and now works with the U.K wheel chair tennis team which represented Britain in the 2012 London Olympics.

In recent years Ekow worked with the Richard Kracjec tennis foundation assisting deprived children in the East End of London.

Coach Ekow was involved with the Greenhouse sports charity for three years delivering tennis/ mentoring to underprivileged children in the East End of London.

Ekow was a licensed Referee and a member of ABTO (Association of British tennis officials) and organiser of events ( Team Challenge)for both Juniors and ( Timed Doubles & Singles)Adults.

The following are a few of the Independent schools in England that coach Ekow as worked with:

• University of Westminster
• St.Mary's University -Twickenham
• St John's (Leatherhead)
• Cranley prep school ( Guildford )
• South Bank international (Hampstead)
• Kensington Int. (Kensington)
• St. Mary's abbots (Kensington)
• French Lycee (Kensington)
• Eton House (Kensington)
• ASL(American school in London (Hampstead)
• Hereward house Swiss cottage
• Milescover Dale –Hammersmith & Fulham
• Scared Heart-Hammersmith & Fulham
• La petite-Nottinghill gate
• The Square Nursery-Holland Park
• Oxford Gardens -Kensington
• Avondale Primary- Kensington
• St.Mary’s of the Angels-Kensington
• The Spanish School Portabalo -Kensington
• Head Coach The Cumberland Sport College ( East London-Newham)

Coach Ekow currently is based at the Westway Tennis & Fitness Centre in London as an Independent Tennis Professional available Monday to Thursday & Saturday mornings. Ekow also consults in the areas of tennis marketing; fitness training/tennis specific fitness test,provides Exclusive Executive tennis holidays in London & Morocco , overseas training for players, gap-year tennis in Morocco and the United Kingdom,Brand Ambassador for Yonex ,Private Coach to VVIP'S.