Pretoria, South Africa – Some of South Africa’s top tennis officials invited by the International Tennis Federation (ITF) and Olympic Committee to do duty in Rio de Janeiro at the Olympic and Paralympic Games are making a big impression on court.
Pieter Hoeksma of Pretoria was a line umpire at the tennis event of the Olympics which ended on Sunday and Iain Smith also from Pretoria has been appointed by the ITF as the Competition Referee for the upcoming Paralympics.
Joining Smith at the Paralympics will be Mxolisi Matyolo of Katlehong as a line umpire.
Smith, who was the Assistant Referee at the 2012 London Paralympics was promoted by the ITF to Referee of the Rio Paralympics.
Gavin Crookes, President of Tennis South Africa (TSA) said that the appointments were a clear indication that South Africa were recognised by the ITF as a leader in tennis officiating. “TSA pride themselves in a sound officiating programme that gives opportunity to all South Africans inclusive of all races and we are pleased that a number of officials, including Iain Smith, Pieter Hoeksma and Mxolisi Matyolo are appointed annually by the ITF to their major international events. These appointments clearly indicate that our programmes are well structured and professionally operate and are producing world class officials.”
