By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

HE left town on Mother’s Day for Paderborn, Germany, to participate in the Tennis Bundesliga Zone III league.

But Kevin Major Jr didn’t go without a sendoff from his family and members of the Mark Knowles Tennis Bahamas crew.

Last Thursday night, a reception was held for Major Jr, who will be joining the TuS SG Sennelager tennis club in a month-long event in Germany against six other teams before he joins his fellow teammates on the Bahamas’ Davis Cup team in Panama at the end of June.

In launching his professional career in Florida a few years ago before the coronavirus pandemic halted his participation in the sport, motivational speaker Wayne Thompson said the 24-year-old Major Jr played in 63 matches and won 52.

Now more motivated than when he got started, Thompson said Major Jr is going to take Germany by storm.

“One thing I knew I was ready to take this journey was from a question I always used to get when I was growing up,” Major Jr said. “What are you working on now? What needs the most work? I knew I was getting closer when my answers stopped being about my strokes, stopped being about how I am hitting the ball and started to be able to know how I play and what I’m thinking when I’m playing.

“When I started to put more emphasis on the mind game, everything started to fall into place. It was a little slow, but it was falling into place.

“Now I feel I’m at the place where everything is in place and now it’s just about execution.”

Thompson hosted the spirited ceremony at the MKTB Academy at the Atlantis Tennis Club as he kept the audience entertained in his introduction of Major Jr and those who participated. “I’m absolutely certain that he is ready to take full advantage of this opportunity,” Thompson said.

“As a matter of fact, when this eight weeks is over, KJ will begin playing on the professional tour in at least five tournaments in Germany that he will be taking advantage of.

“He’s had all of the delicious crack conch, grouper cutlets, conch salad and so he’s got everything in his physical tank to cause him to perform at his best.”

Philip Major Jr, a close family member, friend and rival, who also works with Major Jr in the MKTB Academy, thanked everyone because they are all a family and he has served as a coach for them all.

“We’re grateful for him taking the time out to share his knowledge, along with our knowledge and coming together to not only being a great team for the kids, but he’s grown as well, not only as a player, but as a person.

“It’s an honour for me to be a part of that and we all feel that way. So, all of us want to wish him the best and we know he will (do his best) because he has put in the work, and he has been dedicating himself to his craft.”

Major Jr said they will be looking forward to the results posted from Germany.

Sherano Hanna, one of the rising young players in the MKTB Academy, said when he first met Major Jr, he realised that he was a monster (as a player) on the tennis court that was what has been one of his own inspirations to want to go on and excel as well.

“What I want to tell him is good luck on the tour in Germany. I hope you bring the trophy when you come back,” stated Hanna, who is listed as one of the top players in the under-16 division in the BLTA.

On hand to represent the government was Timothy Munnings, the director of sports at the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture.

He claimed that Major Jr is just one of the many superstars who is now making the Bahamas proud on the international scene.

Representing the new Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Iram Lewis, who was in Grand Bahama, Munnings said they are delighted to participate in the sendoff for Major Jr.

“I’m absolutely confident that Kevin is going to Germany and he’s going to make his mark,” Munnings said. “As I understood it, you will be joining your colleagues at Davis Cup, so they are happy for you, we’re happy for you and the honorable Minister Iram Lewis is happy for you. He sends his best regards.”

Munnings, a member of the Bahamas men’s national 4 x 400 metre relay team that has won medals at both the Olympics and Worlds, said Major Jr should be someone that the young tennis players can emulate and inspire to be like.

Thompson said he believes that because of Major Jr’s influence there will be many NCAA Division one, two and III players coming out of the MKTB Academy.

“It is imperative that you develop the right attitude. It is imperative that you develop the right way of thinking. It is imperative that you recognise that you better remain a student of the game,” Thompson summed up.

“Once you don’t become a student of the game, your ceiling has been reached. This young man here is a student, and he is hungry to learn. What he has learned, he’s now ready to take to Germany.”