Obituary: Kwalam Apisah

The ITF is saddened to learn of the death of Kwalam Apisah, a tennis coach and mentor who was hugely respected within Papua New Guinea and throughout the Pacific Oceania region for his services to the sport.

Described by many as the heartbeat of tennis in Papua New Guinea, Apisah has left a lasting legacy, having represented his nation with distinction as both a player and coach for almost 40 years.

Apisah first represented Papua New Guinea on court in 1981 and did so until 2003, at which stage his coaching career, which he had embarked upon in 1982, became his primary focus.

In 2019, Apisah and his wife, Vere Tere, were awarded the British Empire Medal for their services to the development of tennis in Papua New Guinea.

“Kwalam’s legacy is undeniably the positive influence he has imparted with thousands of junior players and their families,” said Barbara Stubbings, president of the Papua New Guinea Tennis Association.

“Coach Kwalam was Mr. Tennis of Papua New Guinea: a great athlete, friend and mentor who loved the game, never took himself too seriously and has a good sense of humour.”

Apisah’s coaching career began in the early eighties and he held a dream that one day one of his protégés would break into the professional ranks. As it happened, his daughter Abigail became the first Pacific Island woman to win a professional title in 2019.

“A blessing in disguise in 2020 was that Kwalam had his two daughters [Abigail and Marcia, who has also represented Papua New Guinea] were at home for the longest period of time in a decade or more,” added Stubbings.

“The success of these two elite players [Abigail and Marcia] largely draws from the love and respect of their father. Papua New Guinea tennis and Oceania tennis mourn the passing of coach Kwalam for our collective loss, but he is clearly a great loss to his immediate family.”