The national tennis championship took place on the six courts of the ACSA (Amicale Culturelle et Sportive d’Ambohidahy), a pleasant venue that has become too small for an event of this scale.
The first week was dedicated to veteran matches and youth initiation. Many parents attended, adding a family touch that is part of the club’s DNA. While the little ones happily explored tennis, the FMT (Malagasy Tennis Federation) wisely offered coaching sessions for parents to better support their potential future champions. The beautiful motto, ‘encourage effort, not the score,’ will remain with me as a great discovery.
Ambohidahy, Ampariabe, Antanimbarinandriana, Mahamasina, and Anosikely form a pentagon that could be dotted with tennis courts. There are barely more than 115 tennis courts on the entire island for exactly 972 registered players: a 12 percent ratio that confines tennis to a niche, despite its visibility potential. At Ambohidahy, the former Tennis-Club, which celebrated its centenary in 2023, could continue its expansion into other racket sports—squash yesterday, padel today, and perhaps badminton tomorrow—without sacrificing any tennis courts.
As time passes, memories may blur, but I recall seeing old net posts and umpire chairs on the current handball courts of Collège Saint-Michel, located in Ampariabe, between Antanimbarinandriana and Ampamoloana, the latter having belonged to Princess Ramasindrazana, aunt of Queen Ranavalona III.
Antanimbarinandriana, an excellent downtown location and a potential hub for this ‘sports pentagon’ between Anosy and Mahamasina, has unfortunately been turned into a car parking lot. As for the Mahamasina omnisports stadium, its reputation is tarnished and its space encroached upon by a football field that does not even meet international standards. Further toward Anosikely, the Cercle Franco-Malgache once had three tennis courts before a telecommunications tower was installed. Passionate players can still find courts at the Solimotel or the former Hilton, now the Carlton.
Beyond this tennis fortnight, our pentagon holds the potential for a multi-sports and multi-activity district. The aging indoor gymnasium in Mahamasina already hosts handball, volleyball, basketball, and futsal. Long ago, previous generations managed to turn the Mahamasina facilities into a venue for true sporting reunions and charming encounters—a daily tribute to life.
Captured & Published at: 2026-08-20 05:39:35 (Madagascar Local Time EAT)
Original Source: https://www.lexpress.mg/2026/08/pentagone.html