Love to Serve Newsletter Copyright 2000
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The challenge of a tennis court becomes easier on the player when the player has faith and believes in God. This is the opinion of one of South Africa's brightest tennis prospects, Jeff Coetzee.
Being colored, twenty two year old Jeff comes from a humble development background. Two common aspects dominate his life; tennis and more important, Jesus Christ.
Jeff was raised in the copper mining town of Okiep in the North Western Cape. His tennis talents were discovered when he was a mere 9 years old. As a junior, he dominated the game in South Africa. Jeff has come along way from the make-shift gravel court in his homes backyard in Namaqualand where he tied orange bags together to serve as the net. With 72 singles titles to his credit (24 of them international), and having represented South Africa at the highest tennis level, it is no wonder the once "pint sized" wonder kid is making a mark in the tennis circles of the world.
Jeff hails from a very simple but solid background and has the security of a loving and supportive family with sound Christian principles.
But a decision made by Jeff in his early childhood to commit himself to the Lord is proving to be the best decision Jeff could ever have made.
"My life is rather hectic, and very pressurized," admits Jeff. "I travel from tournament to tournament around the world and with practice sessions, fitness workouts and social engagements, quality time with God is sometimes difficult."
But Jeff finds the time, and no matter where he is or what pressure he is under, quality time with the Lord remains a priority.
A definite in Jeff's tennis bag is his "Faith for Daily Living," sent to him monthly from home. From this inspiration, Jeff finds peace of mind.
"I love spending time in prayer with God, and reading His World through my daily notes. It gives me added strength and faith I need for my tennis and life in general."
With Afrikaans being his mother tongue, he travels with a Bible in the same language. At night before he goes to bed, no matter where or at what time, Jeff falls to his knees, reads from his Bible makes notes and then prays to God.
"I cannot go to sleep without saying goodnight and thank-you to God. He is so wonderful to me, has given me such a talent and guides me daily in everything I do," said Jeff.
Jeff delights in having close Christian friends on the Tour.
Although they often find themselves facing each other in competition on opposite sides of the net and sometimes play doubles together, they have a closeness in being Christians. This makes them easier to relate to one another, the Lord being the center of their friendship.
But Jeff admits that there are not enough open hearted Believers on the Tour. "In order to grow with Jesus, you need to worship and praise His name with fellow Believers. It is important to share the same faith and love for the Lord. To be able to share openly with someone who has a common love for Jesus, helps you grow in faith."
Fellow South African pro player, Damien Roberts is one such friend and Damien and Jeff spend a lot of time together, whether it be at tournaments, on airplanes, hotel rooms, on court in practise or matches or as doubles partners, the key to their success is relating to each other in a wonderful Christian way.
A demonstration of their close friendship is told in the story when as juniors, over an Easter weekend both boys departed South Africa for the USA via Austria. While in transit in Austria a problem arose with Jeff's passport and the Austrian authorities would not let Jeff board his connecting plane to New York. Damien could have flown. His paperwork was in tact. But rather than leave Jeff behind, he remained with his friend and the boys spent the Easter weekend together at the airport in transit, sleeping on airport benches, whilst the South African Embassy in Vienna sorted out Jeff's passport.
Jeff admits to praying on court during matches, and conversing with the Lord at the change-over.
"I know I cannot ask God to help me win points, games and matches, but I can ask God to give me a clear mind, and inner strength and guidance in all I do."
A favorite and inspiring part of scripture to Jeff is found in Psalm 55. It reads, "If we ask anything according to His will, He hears us."
Jeff was the first non-white to end the "white stranglehold" of tennis in our country. When Jeff dominated the circuit in South Africa during his under 12, 14 and 16 age-groups, he was accepted as part of the tennis family of South Africa. Despite the stringent apartheid laws, his racquet did the talking and he was respected by all in our country.
It was not easy for the shy tennis "whizz-kind" who was constantly haunted by the media, sponsors and agents. But the cool and collective nature of Jeff Coetzee was the envy of every junior player and kept him strong during these years.
The tennis kids at tournaments saw Jeff and the hand-full of non-white juniors no different to how white South Africa viewed non-white South Africa. The white kids were not racist, they had just been raised in an apartheid society.
Damien Roberts recalls how the juniors all envied Jeff. "He was brilliant, and one soon forgot about the color of his skin. He was something else, skillful and agile like no other player we had seen. He might have been colored, but Jeff was special."
Damien's answer in accepting Jeff as his friend despite his race was strengthened by a piece of scripture. Leviticus 19 reads, "Do not seek revenge, or bear a grudge against one of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself."
And Jeff remembers the past, but as a true Christian, would rather forget it and forgive those who made it difficult for him.
"I had my problems in the old South Africa. I could not swim on the beaches of Durban with the other tennis kids, go to the movies with the guys I beat on court. When we played in tournaments in the former Western Transvaal, we were often mocked and called "kaffirs" by players and parents, but I knew in the eyes of God, I was normal, one of His children, and that is what mattered most."
Jeff, despite the pressures from the outside world, is proud to be a Christian. He is not shy to share his belief with fellow players on the Tour, which include Muslim, Hindu and Jewish worshipers. His "W.W.J.D" (What Would Jesus Do) bracelet Jeff sports on his wrist at all times is testimony of this. Jeff always tries to set a good example as a Christian and his mission is clear; To be the best he can be as tennis player and Christian, both on and off the court and help the others to know the true Light.