The Royal Moroccan Tennis Federation (FRMT) held its annual ordinary general assembly in Salé on Saturday for the 2014-2015 season.

During this general assembly, held in the presence, notably, of representatives of the Ministry of Youth and Sports and the Moroccan National Olympic Committee, the 72 clubs present (out of the 106 affiliated to the FRMT), unanimously approved the 2014-2015 moral and financial reports and the 2016 budget project.

The moral report, presented by the secretary general of the FRMT, Mohamed Zouhair, notably highlights that the main actions undertaken during the 2014-2015 season, the third after the election of the current steering committee, concerned the development of tennis, the programme of national and international competitions, the ITF (International Tennis Federation) centre, and the promotion of relations with clubs, international bodies, and supervisory bodies. The realisation of this ambitious programme required the mobilisation of increasingly important funds that the FRMT secured thanks to the support of the Ministry of Youth and Sports, the document notes.

On the institutional level, the season was characterised by the adoption of the new statutes of the FRMT, in accordance with the provisions of the standard statutes which were the subject of a decree published in the Official Bulletin.

As for national competitions, the 2014-15 season was marked by the organisation of 62 events: 20 gatherings, 16 tournaments for 11-14 year olds, 5 grade 1, 11 grade 2, and 10 grade 3.

The past season also saw a development of professional tennis in Morocco after, notably, the organisation of four men's Challenger tournaments, counting for the ATP circuit and one women's tournament counting for the ITF circuit, in addition to the SAR Princess Lalla Meryem Grand Prix and the Hassan II Grand Prix.

The moral report also addressed the activities of the National Technical Directorate (DTN) during the past season: Thus, the FRMT placed as a priority the support of clubs, the training of coaches, and young people thanks, notably, to the partnership with the ITF, the document stresses.

The DTN indicates in the moral report that 664 male and female players from 44 clubs benefited from the federal programme, 2014-2015 season, dedicated to the 7-10, 11-18, and senior categories.

As for the ITF centre realised in partnership with the FRMT and the African Tennis Confederation, it is aimed at elite players aged 12 and over from the entire continent. The centre offers a training programme, competition, medical monitoring, adapted schooling, and accommodation.

Despite the promising level of play among the young age categories, the evolution of competitive players from the age of 7, the good results of the national youth teams under 12, 14, and 16, several challenges persist, concerning notably the number of practitioners, infrastructure, sports-study, and supervision, the DTN notes.

The financial report presented during this assembly shows operating income amounting to 24,095,601.25 DH against 26,995,400.40 DH in 2013-2014, a decrease of 2,899,799.15 DH.

As for operating expenses, they amounted to 24,210,030.10 DH, against 26,813,813.83 DH the previous season, a decrease of 2,603,783.73 DH. The net result of the financial year thus shows a deficit of 114,428.85 DH, against a surplus of 181,586.54 DH in 2013-2014.