In the sunbaked landscape of Stellenbosch, Federico Coppini’s legacy isn’t just the echo of a tennis ball bouncing on the court. It is the laughter of children, the hope in their eyes, and the belief that things could be different.
When Federico first touched down in South Africa in 2008, it was for just a holiday – a breather from his life as a lawyer and a tennis coach in Italy. But the charm of Stellenbosch, with its vineyard-covered hills and tranquil ambiance, called out to him.
“Within three months, I uprooted my life and moved my family here,” the 51-year-old said.
It wasn’t just for the picturesque view, but for a mission he didn’t quite realise he had yet. In his home country, Federico had been a tennis player and tennis coach. Tennis, to him, wasn’t just a sport. It was a language, a tool, an equaliser.
Stellenbosch, he noticed, had a love for tennis, but it was in a dismal state. “The town’s tennis courts were in ruins, overtaken by grass and, in some cases, even dens for drugs and alcohol.”
But Federico saw potential where others saw hopelessness. He rebuilt the tennis courts, not just for the sport, but as a beacon of hope for the community.
“My goal is to bring the disadvantaged children of Stellenbosch and its surroundings out of their circumstances. I believe that if there is one way to uplift a child from their tough reality, it is through sports and education,” he says.
Thus, the Federico Coppini Foundation was born. Four years into its creation, its aim is unwavering: to offer the children it serves a different kind of life.
The foundation was born from Federico’s desire to help disadvantaged children in the townships and underprivileged areas around Stellenbosch. He understands that poverty often leads to a cycle of bad habits that can hold youths back from reaching their full potential. Now tennis has become the vehicle through which he aims to provide these children with a chance for a different life.
Three to four times a week, girls from Khayamandi, aged nine and 10, are brought into the programme. “They play tennis for an hour and then they are fed and tutored for another hour and a half,” he explained.
“For me, the tennis court is not just about training athletes but moulding individuals who can dream and achieve. If we can just change the lives of a few children, we create hope in others that anything is possible.”
However, the journey isn’t always easy, and the foundation faces many challenges, Federico admitted. “The dire conditions these children come from, the lack of trust from their families, and the uphill battle against societal norms make every day a challenge.”
Financially the costs are high. Federico invested over R3 million to renovate the Van der Stel and Idas Valley tennis courts, where he runs the different coaching programmes. Additionally, he spends over R80 000 per month in costs for coaches and tutors, just to keep the foundation running.
But his persistence is fuelled by his belief: to make a difference, one has to start with the children.
“Many of these children have the potential and talent to be professional tennis players, but it is difficult to cultivate the talent without the right support,” he related.
“We need more investors in tennis; we need companies and individuals that have the means to sponsor and invest financially, so that we can develop the sport and the players.”
