Tennis Fed find funds to host both tourneys

TFC President and Senior Commerce Minister Cham Prasidh has helped attract sponsorship to host the back-to-back US$15,000 Futures events. Photo by: Sreng Meng Srun

via CAAI

Tuesday, 18 January 2011 15:00 H S Manjunath

With less than a week to go before the Kingdom’s historic debut as host of an ITF Futures event, the Tennis Federation of Cambodia has tied up all the loose financial ends by securing several sponsorship deals over the last fortnight.

“We are ready and raring to go,” said TFC Secretary General Tep Rithivit. “Thankfully most of our financial worries have been resolved just in time thanks to generous sponsorship offers from the corporate as well as the private sectors. There is still a slight shortfall but we are hopeful of making it over.”

TFC President and Senior Commerce Minister Cham Prasidh led an inspired campaign to mobilise funds to cope with the additional burden of having to raise extra prize money for the two back-to-back week-long US$15,000 tournaments which were originally set at $10,000.

“Our relentless efforts have borne fruit and I am extremely happy that we have got over these financial hurdles,” said the Minister. “We are eager to let the grandest tennis show the country has ever seen hit the stage next week.”

Tep Rithivit expressed his gratitude to a “glorious band of sponsors” led by ANZ Royal Bank.

“Their support and contribution has been invaluable,” the Secretary added.

“We are also thankful to Pepsi, RM Asia, Infinity Insurance, Ezecom, Hello, Tiger Beer and Hotel Cambodiana for their whole hearted support.

“The ITF’s grant of $16,000 from the Grand Slam Development Fund has been very helpful in organising this event which would cost us about $70,000 in all.

“I am glad that the Federation can now focus its attention on the main show now that the finances are all are wrapped up. We are set to launch the best two weeks of tennis the country has ever seen.”