KUWAIT: Former Director of Development at the International Tennis Federation (ITF) Dave Miley was on a visit to Kuwait during which he visited Sheikh Jaber Al-Abdallah Al-Jaber Al-Sabah International Tennis Complex accompanied by Kuwait Tennis Federation President Sheikh Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Abdallah Al-Sabah and Secretary General Faleh Al-Otaibi.

Miley is touring the region as part of his campaign running for ITF President during the ITF General Assembly to be held in Portugal at the end of this month. He attended a press conference in which Sheikh Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Abdallah Al-Sabah thanked the guest for his visit, adding that "we hope to benefit from his experience in the field of developing the game of tennis. He said Miley's visit to the tennis complex produced ideas and views about how to run the game at the complex the best way possible in order to develop the game in Kuwait and have the region benefit from this important facility.

Meanwhile Dave Miley thanked Sheikh Ahmad and KTF for their hospitality, and had praise for what he saw at Sheikh Jaber Al-Abdallah Al-Jaber Al-Sabah International Complex adding it is very important for the development of tennis in Kuwait and the region.

He said Arab and Asian countries will benefit from the facilities available at the complex and lauded the move of signing a contract with Rafael Nadal Tennis Academy.

Dave Miley introduced himself as a candidate for ITF President by saying that he worked as development director for 25 years, and organized many important tournaments during that time. He said he has a vast experience in developing tennis at the world level and that he had 30 years of experience in the various fields of the game be it at the juniors if professional for both genders levels in addition to the technical part of it.
He spoke about how the relation of ITF should be with the national federations, and that ITF should act in the interest of those federations and help them develop the game while increasing the number of players and improve their performance while increasing the number of their participation, besides helping organize international tournaments. Miley spoke about means of developing the action of ITF in the field of international tournaments including Davis and Fed Cups, as well as the Grand Slams.

He said that he will make sure ITF support all member federations in case he wins and said he will implement a new method of running the ITF. He also spoke about amending the system of international officiating courses, specially at their initial levels, as well as amending some rules. About Sheikh Jaber Al-Abdallah Al-Jaber Al-Sabah International Tennis Complex he said there is a need for programs to develop the game and the best way to benefit from it, starting with the under 10 category and increase the number of players of various ages as well as professionals.
He said the complex requires good management, and customer service at the highest level to organize tournaments and manage the courts.

By Abdellatif Sharaa