US-based Nigerian tennis player, Sadiq Tswako, has set up a foundation to cater for the less privileged in Nigeria, Nigerian Tennis Live can authoritatively report.
The former Nigerian junior who has been in the United States for years, set up the foundation in Nigeria as part of his dream to ensure that younger ones have something to benefit from him, especially as it has to do with tennis and education.
In a conversation with our correspondent from his base in the States, Tswako explained in details how and why he kicked off the benevolent act.
 |
| Tswako’s name proudly written with tennis balls on the court at the official launch of the Foundation. |
“I started this foundation because I’ve always dreamt of having something kids are going to benefit from.
“The goal of the foundation is to give those kids an opportunity to play the game to a certain level and get them to college here in the state,” he said.
Asked whether he did not see this as an act carried out by only people who are reaching their prime or who are advanced in age, the graduate of Criminal Justice from an American University, noted that: “At first I thought I was too young and wasn’t financially ready yet. But I thought of it and said to myself it won’t cost me anything to get them a coach, strings, racket, shoe, and several other items.
 |
| Some of the players going through a drilling session at the LifeCamp venue of the Foundation. |
“Right now I’m starting the program in LifeCamp Abuja where I started from as a ball boy so the kids there will benefits from it.
“The foundation is all about helping this kids to play as much a they can. It’s hurt to see some kids haven’t played for weeks because they have no strings, some even play without shoes. And of cause I am on top of their education.
“The plan is to get them a lesson teach that will take them in school work at least 3 times a week before practice.”
How expensive is it to run such foundation? Tswako answered: “It doesn’t cost that much to set up something like this but trust me it’s going to go a long way for those kids out there.
 |
| One of the beneficiaries receives a pair of tennis shoes from the Tswako Foundation at the LifeCamp base in Abuja. |
Like many other foundations out there where people seek help from companies and other organizations for funding, Nigerian Tennis Live asked the young musician if he also has sponsors, but he replied in the negative.
“It’s self sponsored,” he said.
“I’ll soon begin to reach out to my friends here for used rackets, training equipment, and any other item they can help with so I can send them down to Nigeria.
 |
| No fewer than 12 kids have been registered on the books of the Tswako Foundation. |
“We’ve gotten about 12-15 kids I believe.
“They are already in school so is just to get them a lesson teacher for extra school work,” he added.
If this project is self-sponsored, how much has ‘LC to the World’ crooner invested in it so far?
“I would like to keep that private, sir… I started with 100k, sent some strings and racket. I will also be paying the coach every month… and also there will be tournament for the kids every last Saturday of the month.
 |
| Sadiq has promised to reach out to friends for more tennis items to be able to do more for the kids. |
“I actually have a friend that manages everything so all I do is to put money in his account and he will take care of the things they need,” he replied.
Nigerian Tennis Live will keep monitoring the activities in the Foundation and keep our esteemed readers up to date with the new developments.