Sunday, March 18, 2012

SADILI JUNIOR PLAYERS DOMINATE KENYA OPEN


Sadili Oval Sports Academy’s juniors proved that they are the team to beat at the just concluded Real Insurance Kenya Open at Nairobi Club, when they dominated the junior tournament and made inroads into the senior event.
17 year old Amadi Kagoma became the youngest player to reach the quarterfinals of the Mens Singles,  knocking out third seed Habiyambere Diadonne (Rwanda) 7-6(4) 6-3 in the first round. Kagoma also reached the semi-finals of the Mens doubles with team mate Yasin Shabani, losing to eventual tournament finalists, Habyambere/Mugabe 6-1  5-7 10-6 in a closely contested match. Kagoma, also lifted the boys Under 18 title, over team mate Jamin Luvembe, 6-3 2-6 6-3.
Chizi Mutsumi: the new girl on the scene
9 year old sensation, Saada Nahimana lifted the girls Under12s, winning 6-0 6-0 (she has only lost one game in the whole tournament) against her opponent Prudence Theuri, while Shebani Kabura cruised over Martin Luveka 6-1 6-0 in the Boys Under 16s. Back to the tennis scene was Chizi Mutsumi, who is now full time at the academy. Chizi reached the girls singles finals, losing to Sofiya Gulam 6-2, 3-6, 2-6. Says Chizi, “I have only been playing for two months: I am quite pleased with my results. I know that I can perform even better”. Her team mate, Lorna Bhwejje took third place in the Girls under 18, after Gloria Rotich and Alvas Wahome, respectively. Amadi and Shebani have already jetted out to represent the region at the age-group Africa Junior Championships in South Africa and Egypt, respectively. Amadi will be joining team mate and former Sadili junior, Hassan Ndayashimiye to try and win the boys Under 18s for Burundi and East Africa.
Other juniors who performed well in this team included Olivier Kigotho (Boys Under 14 quarters), Henry Ayesiga (Boys Under 16 semis), and Kibera-born players Ronex Otieno (boys u14 semis) and Josephat Garo (boys U14 quarters).
The Real Insurance Kenya Open attracted 135 juniors from around the region, who played in the Under 10 to the Under 18 categories.