From a LinkedIn message to TrainMaster.pro Talent Spotlight
Talent Spotlight began with one particular story. Dariusz Kiełb, the father of young tennis player Dawid Kiełb, contacted Eliza Bingul, founder and CEO of TrainMaster.pro, via LinkedIn to share details of a fundraising campaign to support the next stage of his son's career.
Dawid is 18 and comes from Stalowa Wola, Poland. He represents KS Efektowni.pl and is coached by Robert Stępień. He competes in Polish Tennis Association (PZT) and International Tennis Federation (ITF) tournaments. The next stage of his career will involve increasingly demanding international competition and a move into senior-level tournaments.
I contacted Eliza on LinkedIn to tell her about Dawid and our fundraising campaign to cover the cost of my son's next tournament season. It's very important to me that Dawid can continue developing at senior level. That means travelling abroad much more often and undertaking additional training, all of which comes at a huge cost that is difficult to cover from our family budget alone. We want to share our story with people and businesses that could help fund regular training and participation in upcoming tournaments. Every contribution from outside the family gives Dawid more opportunities to progress,
says Dariusz Kiełb, the player's father.
It quickly became clear to Eliza Bingul that this was not a problem affecting just one athlete.
When Dawid's father contacted me on LinkedIn and told me about Dawid's story and the fundraiser, my first thought was: ‘This is exactly what TrainMaster.pro was created for.’ From the outset, my priority has been to support independent coaches, because they are the people who develop young athletes. Among those athletes, there are undoubtedly future world-class competitors whose biggest obstacle at a certain stage may be a lack of funding. At first, we simply wanted to help bring one athlete's story to a wider audience. But I quickly realised there could be hundreds of similar stories. Many talented young athletes have the ability, results, ambition, family support and quality coaching they need. What they often lack is visibility and a way to reach people or organisations willing to support the next stage of their development. Crowdfunding platforms bring together many different stories and needs in one place. That's why TrainMaster.pro Talent Spotlight provides a dedicated space for young athletes who have already achieved tangible results but need sponsors and partners to help them reach the next level,
says Eliza Bingul, founder and CEO of TrainMaster.pro.
Dawid's story shows how funding can become a real barrier
Dawid trains with KS Efektowni.pl. In 2025, he and Mikołaj Owramko won the doubles title at the ITF J60 tournament in Mogyoród, Hungary. In 2026, he reached the third round of singles and the doubles quarter-finals at the ITF J100 tournament in Kraków. On the domestic senior circuit, he also reached the Legia Cup final and the Rzeszów Open quarter-finals.
This is where the paradox of youth sport becomes apparent. The better an athlete gets, the more often they need to face stronger opponents, travel and invest in their development. Talent opens the door to the next level, but it does not pay the cost of getting there.
In an interview with WP SportoweFakty, Dawid's father described the financial realities of junior tennis. According to his calculations, a week-long trip to Hungary, which ended in a doubles tournament victory, cost the family more than PLN 5,000. Athletes and their families typically have to cover entry fees, transport, accommodation, meals, equipment maintenance and other logistical expenses. Regular international competition can therefore cost tens of thousands of Polish zlotys per month.
And those are only part of the costs. There is also additional coaching, one-to-one training sessions, facility hire, equipment, recovery, specialist consultations and the athlete's day-to-day living expenses. Dariusz Kiełb estimates that the annual cost of developing an athlete at this level can be around PLN 200,000.
Tennis is one of the most obvious examples, but the same pattern can be seen across many other sports. As athletes progress, so do the costs of travel, equipment, specialised coaching, strength and conditioning, physiotherapy, recovery, medical care and international competition. At some point, a lack of adequate funding can become a genuine obstacle to further development.
In many sports, talent is only the beginning. The higher the level, the greater the costs of training, equipment, travel and regular competition. An excellent athlete can reach a point where their ability to progress depends on whether they can secure funding for the next stage of their career. We want to use TrainMaster.pro to give these athletes greater visibility and make it easier for them to connect with individuals and businesses that can genuinely support their development,
adds Eliza Bingul.
Coaches recognise potential before the wider market does
Talent Spotlight reflects the mission and vision of TrainMaster.pro, a platform built for trainers, instructors and coaches. By working with athletes day in, day out, coaches are often the first to recognise the talent, potential and determination needed to succeed in sport.
TrainMaster.pro Talent Spotlight gives young athletes from around the world a place to tell their sporting stories. An athlete's profile can include verified results and achievements, development goals, specific funding needs and preferred ways of working with sponsors and supporters of sport.
The platform does not charge a commission, collect payments on behalf of athletes or take part in sponsorship agreements. Its role is to increase talented athletes' visibility, organise and verify information, and make it easier for athletes to connect with potential sponsors and partners. The platform supports profiles in English and Polish.
The coach–athlete relationship is central to Talent Spotlight. Unlike conventional sponsorship platforms, the athlete nomination process on TrainMaster.pro begins with the person who knows the athlete and their potential best. A coach can nominate an athlete they work with, link the athlete's profile to their own TrainMaster.pro account and document their progress together.
Every athlete featured on Talent Spotlight must have a profile linked to a coach's public profile on TrainMaster.pro. This means potential supporters can see not only the athlete's achievements but also the profile of the person guiding their sporting development. For athletes under 18, creating a profile requires the involvement of a parent, legal guardian or authorised representative.
A coach's role is not just to prepare an athlete for their next training session or tournament. When we see talent, character and a willingness to work hard, our responsibility is also to create the conditions in which that potential can grow. Many young athletes reach a point where their limitation is no longer their sporting ability, but the means to compete regularly, travel and prepare professionally. That's why initiatives that help them reach sponsors and partners can have a real impact on their future careers,
says Robert Stępień, Dawid Kiełb's coach.
In sport, everything starts with a coach. Coaches are often the first to spot an athlete's potential, work with them for years and understand better than anyone what lies behind a particular result, success or setback. We hope Talent Spotlight will help coaches support their most talented athletes more effectively and nominate the athletes they believe in. We have launched a dedicated nomination form that makes it easy to put forward athletes seeking sponsors. Once the information has been verified, we will publish their profiles on the platform. To qualify, athletes must have documented achievements at junior level, and the information submitted must be verifiable,
says Eliza Bingul.
Dawid Kiełb is one of many athletes with a similar story
Dawid is now 18 and is making the transition from junior to senior competition. His plan involves competing more extensively on the international circuit, including ITF men's tournaments. Securing reliable funding for competition and being able to plan the entire season well in advance are essential to his further development.
Individuals can support Dawid's career through a verified external fundraiser or by sharing his story. Businesses interested in working with him can start a conversation about sponsorship or fund a specific part of his sporting development, such as travel, equipment, transport, accommodation or recovery.
Dawid's profile on TrainMaster.pro Talent Spotlight: https://trainmaster.pro/spotlight/dawid-kielb
If you represent a business, you can send a sponsorship enquiry directly to the athlete through TrainMaster.pro Talent Spotlight. If you cannot contribute financially, share his story. The sponsor an athlete needs could be just one introduction away.
Nominate an athlete for TrainMaster.pro Talent Spotlight
Talent Spotlight welcomes nominations of male and female athletes from a wide range of sports. Every nomination is verified before publication, and participation in the programme is completely free.
TrainMaster.pro wants to reach coaches, trainers and instructors who work with young athletes every day and can recognise not only talent and results, but also commitment, character and potential for further development.
Coaches are often the first to know which athletes are ready for the next stage of their careers and need greater visibility and support. Through Talent Spotlight, they can help athletes showcase their achievements, sporting goals and development needs, while making it easier to connect with individuals and businesses interested in supporting emerging talent.
LINKS / EDITORIAL VERIFICATION
Dawid's profile on TrainMaster.pro Talent Spotlight: https://trainmaster.pro/spotlight/dawid-kielb
Athlete profile on the club's website: https://ksefektowni.pl/dawid/
Fundraiser: https://zrzutka.pl/fgudps
PZT profile: https://portal.pzt.pl/PlayerMatches.aspx?UserID=KIE1429146
ITF J60 Mogyoród result confirmation: https://www.pzt.pl/3_154_17682/wyniki-polskich-juniorek-i-juniorow-w-tygodniu-1319-pazdziernika-2025-r.aspx
ITF J100 Kraków 2026 result: https://pzt.pl/3_154_19087/wyniki-polskich-mlodziezowcow-w-tygodniu-1016-sierpnia-2026-r.aspx
Costs and comments from the family: https://sportowefakty.wp.pl/tenis/1217262/tenis-nie-jest-dla-biednych-ludzi-ojciec-polskiego-talentu-odkrywa-kulisy-dyscyp