With sports especially tennis as their calling, Michiel Borst and Sarah van Urk, Founders and Managing Directors of Athletic Kings Bahrain, came from faraway Netherlands to provide specialized tennis coaching, running classes, private football sessions and boot camp/footwork sessions. This week, they share with BTW their long arduous journey and mission to inculcate love of tennis and other sports in the Island.
Tell us briefly about yourselves.
Michiel Borst, Managing Director: Has completed sports marketing management and had been a tennis coach for a couple years. When he was 19 he followed the tennis coach studies in Berghem in the Netherlands.
Sarah van Urk, Managing Director: Degree in child psychology. during their 3rd year in Dubai Michiel informed Athletic Kings owner Martijn Hagemeier this would be his last year as it was time to do something with his studies. Right that minute Martijn offered Michiel to buy Athletic Kings Dubai from him. So our fourth year in Dubai started with a huge loan but our own company.
What brought you to Bahrain and how long have you been here? What about the country appeals most to you?
Michiel: My very first clients in Dubai Annemiek en Robert Timmers moved back to Bahrain. They sent us messages to invite us to Bahrain, During our first visit we fell in love with the island. The feel that you’re really in the Middle East, the friendliness and inviting nature of the Bahraini’s and the possibilities to live a more normal live attracted us most. Dubai had been fun for those years but never felt like home it felt more like surviving. We immediately started the process to set up our company.
When and how was the Athletic Kings founded?
Athletic Kings Dubai was founded by Martijn Hagemeier in 2003 and we took over in 2007. Athletic Kings Bahrain was founded by us in July 2009. Michiel started coaching in September 2009 and Sarah kept managing Athletic Kings Dubai until she joined Michiel in Bahrain in April 2010.
Trace the growth of the organization since its inception.
When we started in September 2009 Michiel was Athletic Kings Bahrain’s only tennis coach. But from January we had to bring two extra coaches and from September 2010 the team was already with 4. We slowly kept growing with one tennis coach per season and reached a stable 7 coaches for the last couple years. With an average of 50 students per coach we have grown over the last 7 years from 50 to over 350 students all over Bahrain.
What various modes of coaching and camps are offered by your organization?
We are specialized in tennis coaching, but we also offer running classes, private football sessions and boot camp/footwork sessions for our more talented and serious tennis players. Besides these we provide tennis lessons to beginners who form our Kids Club.
We also offer after school tennis lessons, tennis lesson on the compounds for children and adults. We also provide fitness training in our Hit Fit program. We also organize Tennis Tournaments, Tennis League, and Sports Camps. We also host pectacular birthday parties that are aimed at sports and games. We can tailor make them for every theme, age and location.
Which educational institutions are you associated with currently?
At the moment you can find our tennis classes at British School of Bahrain, Ibn Khuldoon National School and Multinational School Bahrain. And of course on the compounds and The Country Club
What have been the major achievements/recognitions received of Athletic Kings so far?
For us a major achievement is the growth of our company. It makes us feel so proud to see all the happy faces during a tournament with over 100 participants. Also the participation of 40 students during the Athletic Kings Tennis League. For us it means that what we offer and what we believe in as Athletic Kings is correct. The path we believe is right for learning and educating children about tennis is the one.
What have been the various challenges that you have faced and how have you overcome them?
For us a big challenge is ‘cheap’ tennis lessons. On the Island you can get cheap tennis lessons and it’s a challenge to compete with that. or skills or take you more lessons to reach the eventual result. Another problem is companies or schools who think they can do it themselves and earn more money by hiring multi sport coaches (who are PE teachers, football coach, Athletic coach etc) or do lessons with groups of 10. We believe that by doing what we’re doing ; good specialized coaches, small groups and the right equipment we will eventually get everyone to realize what the right path to take is to learn and enjoy tennis.
What is the scenario for Tennis in Bahrain? How popular is it as a sport?
Tennis is quite a popular sport in Bahrain. There are a lot of courts around and lots of people that play. There are a couple good tournament organized which attract players from all over the world. But I believe it can still grow and get a better organized sport with a good youth team to represent Bahrain all over the world.
What is your message to tennis lovers of Bahrain?
Enjoy the game, this is the only way to improve, play with your whole family and get a good qualified tennis coach to help you love tennis even more!