Earlier in 2008, Ghana Tennis Aid collaborated with Italian Charity 'Tennis For Africa' and rackets and balls collected from the appeal, Sutton Tennis Academy, Dulwich Tennis Club in London and Surbiton Racket and Fitness Club were shipped by companies Robert Claire and COBA UK to Christ The King College - A secondary school in Sierra Leone to re-establish the tennis activities in the school which has suffered horrendous hardships due to the past history of the country. The school has not been able to refurbish the tennis courts which had been vandalised during the war years and lay overgrown and flooded with muddy waters during the tropical rains for over ten years. CKC once had show piece tennis courts in Bo, which were designed by Fr. Lambe and opened by the Prime Minister Sir Albert Margai in 1963.

Christ The King Secondary School in Bo, Sierra Leone and the Tennis Courts....mmmmm well the posts at least....


CKC has been no exception to the unfortunate outcome of the war. The poor economic situation and the war has affected development or repairs to the infrastructure of the school, shortage of classroom space to accommodate increased numbers of pupils. The walls and roofs of the school building are riddled with bullets holes and conditions
become appalling, especially when it rains. Sports and games facilities have been reduced to zero, which gives
reason for the school to be very grateful for donations and help - Purley Sports Club donated 5 tennis nets to the school to at least make it look a bit more like a tennis court!


Summer 2009

• Bid for a grant to go towards rebuilding the school tennis courts has been put to the PTR Foundation in the USA - fingers crossed!

• Online Ebay Auction by Tennis for Africa sells Tennis Racket and dress donated by Serbian Tennis Pro Ana Ivanevic for Euro 1032,49 (£800.00) to be put towards rebuilding the tennis courts at the CKC school in Sierra Leone

September 2009

Recent pictures of the courts after they have cleared the mud and silt away from the surface. It looks so pathetic, cracked and disfigured, yet still showing some of lines on the tarmac. People are showing interest in the work, and COBA UK are at the stage of setting out the parameters of the contract to rebuild the courts.

Pupils and Staff at the school with the donations :D






About the School..... The History bit.....

In the years following its founding, CKC was renowned as an institution of academic excellence attracting pupils from far away countries like neighbouring Liberia, England and the USA. Most returnees to Sierra Leone from Europe and America found CKC to be the type of school they would adopt for their children. The school produced some of the finest professionals and academics and many of them now occupy positions of responsibility in many institutions in
other countries of Africa and Europe, particularly in UK as well as America and Canada. In Sierra Leone today many Ex-pupils occupy senior positions in government and the civil service.

For over a decade Sierra Leone was in the grips of a senseless war waged by some military adventurists backed by some of Sierra Leone's neighbours who sought to plunder the wealth, human and mineral resources of the country. The war reversed development in every sphere of life in the country and caused a total breakdown of law and order, as a consequence of which most schools and academic institutions in the rural areas were destroyed. Education everywhere in the country was disrupted and schools remained closed for most parts of the years of war.

One thing that remains unchanged at CKC, is the pet crocodile which lives in its enlarged pond constructed by Alumni. It survived the mayhem, but has also suffered due to lack of proper care and attention. The animal is now aged over 36 years and needs to be relocated to a larger pond under plans for construction in the swamp land of CKC.


If you'd like to know more about CKC, please contact Anthony Sheriff tony.sheriff@googlemail.com or go to COBA UK website www.coba-uk.org