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Afruica Gentle fulfilling dream of playing College Tennis Says Cultural gap is big in Baltimore, Maryland USA
By Sean Devers
Afruica Gentle in training mode when she was in Guyana
Kaieteur News – Nineteen-year-old Afruica Gentle has acquired a four-year partial athletic scholarship to attend Coppin State University in Baltimore Maryland and is studying Criminal Justice and Corrections.
The powerful right-hander, whose scholarship was to start last year but was postponed due to the outbreak of the corona virus, said it was always her dream to play College Tennis.
“I drew inspiration from great friend of mine, countryman Gavin Lewis, who attended and graduated from Copping State. Afruica, speaking with Kaieteur Sport just after the completion of an 8-pm class on Tuesday night, revealed that College life has been great so far since it’s not very different from Guyana.
“However, there is a big Cultural gap and so far during the pandemic my biggest challenge has been to social distance, but I have been making that sacrifice because as an athlete it is important for me to be covid-free. The standard of Tennis here is very high and very competitive,” informed Afruica, who informed that the College’s first match for season is set for February 13.
Despite her hectic schedule of studying and playing Tennis, Afruica still managed to follow the West Indies series in Bangladesh.
“I watched most of the One Day Internationals and was very disappointed that the West Indies batsmen did not show more fight or commitment as they lost of three of their games. I will watch some of the first Test and hopefully they will be more competitive in Tests. The bowling is not too bad but the batting is a worrysome,” said Afruica, who has also represented Guyana in Cricket at both youth and senior levels.
Having attended Apex Education and Mae’s School, Gentle started playing Tennis when she was five-years-old with Park Rangers Tennis Club under Coaches Debbie Bunbury-Green and Shelly Daly-Ramdyhan.
Her first tournament was the Le Meridian Pegasus Tennis Tournament where Afruica won the Girls U-12 title. In her last year as an Under-14, until now, Afruica has been training at the Roraima Tennis Club under Coaches Dexter Lewis and Rebecca Mitchell who have been instrumental in her development.
The multitalented lass who is the youngest of four siblings, grew up watching her sister Shawna excel at Tennis during her time as a junior and always wanted to be as good as her sister or even better.
“While at Roraima my game elevated tremendously. I also had training from Coaches Leyland Leacock and Anthony Downes and was mentored by Christy Campbell who is one of my sponsors.
Cristy has been a great influence on my decision-making to pursue my academics and Sports. She always encouraged me to be disciplined on and off the Court,” disclosed Gentle, a former National Junior Champion. The year 2019 was a highly successful one for the then 18-year-old as she impressed both on the cricket pitch and the Tennis Court.
After being not so gentle on the bowlers in GCB Female National U-17 tournament where she dominated with the bat, she earned a place in Guyana U-19 team and later that year she was selected in the National squad for the Regional tournament which was played in Guyana.
On the Tennis Court, Gentle, who has now put cricket on the back burner because of her Scholarship in the USA, was even more successful. She beat Kayla Fraser in the Women’s Open finals, teamed up with fellow Roraima club mate Gavin Lewis to take the Mixed Doubles title whilst also teaming up with her mentor Christy Campbell to capture the Women’s doubles title.
Afruica thanked her parents and family for their support throughout her career and her main sponsors Mr. Saleem of Builders Lumber Yard and Mr. Bunbury of Frontline Hardware Store.
“I would like to also like to thank the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, the Honourable Charles Ramson and the members of Roraima Tennis Club,” concluded Afruica.
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