Sunday, June 16, 2013

Sunday, June 9, 2013

NAIROBI COUNTY TENNIS ASSOCIATION IS LAUNCHED


Nairobi tennis enthusiasts now finally have a chance to work together and grow the game of tennis, with the launching of the Nairobi County Tennis Association, today, at Sadili Oval Sports Academy, Langata.
Speaking on behalf of the Cabinet Secretary of Sports, Dr. Hassan Wario, the County Director of Sports, Ms. Caroline Mungai, reiterated the Ministry’s commitment to working with the county in developing tennis as an important sport in the newly devolved Kenya. Also present was George Kola, of the Langata Constituency Office, who said, on behalf of the MP of Langata, Mr. Joash Olum, was already working to improve and increase the facilities available for tennis, and would actively encourage other constituencies to do the same, in order to give the youth a positive lifestyle choice.
Speaking for The Kenya Lawn Tennis Association, its Charman, Mrs. Paurvi Rawal, congratulated the county for being the first to register fully and that the KLTA would support the initiative fully. She went ahead and registered as a member. The President of Nairobi County Tennis Association, Dr. Liz Odera, announced that they have now opened membership to individuals, schools, academies, clubs and tennis-playing organizations. She stated that both Kenyans and non-Kenyans were free to join the association.
The association was formed to promote the game of tennis in every way and foster friendly relations among officials, players and members of the Association and other organizations by encouraging tennis competitions and community tennis in Nairobi. The association intends to promote the education of coaches, umpires, referees, managers and other officials of the game of tennis, and eradicate discrimination and promote equality and diversity in tennis.
The association has location and divisional representations that include Central, Dagoretti, Embakasi, Kasarani, Kibera, Makadara, Pumwani and Westlands. The association today launched a membership drive in Kibera, and shall be moving through all the other divisional branches to meet tennis enthusiasts and encourage them to take up the mantle and open branch offices in their areas. Locational representation will be very critical to the growth of the game, and apart from areas that are already known to offer tennis and from which representation exists such as Parklands, Karen and Lavington, new areas in which tennis is being promoted for the first time include Kwangware, Kahawa, Maringo, Kasarani, Eastleigh, Pumwani, Kariobangi North, Umoja, Dandora and Highridge.
Association Branches
Locations covered
Central
Huruma · Kariokor · Mathare · Ngara · Starehe
Embakasi
Kasarani
Kibera
Makadara
Pumwani
Membership is open to players, clubs, schools and tennis-playing organizations.
President – Dr. Elizabeth Odera, Director, representative, Karen
Vice-President – Ms. Mary Muriuki, representative, Makadara
Secretary – Mr. Fais Ochieng Magak, representative, Kibera
Treasurer – Mr. Francis Okong’o, representative, Langata
Additional posts are to be filled soon, and include representation committees for Representative from Women in Tennis, Development, Veteran, Juniors, Coaches Association, Clubs Tennis, Schools Tennis, Wheel Chair Tennis, Umpires Association and Historically Disadvantaged Communities. Any person interested in joining the association or partnering with them in any way to promote tennis in the County, may write to nairobicountytennis@gmail.com

Thursday, June 6, 2013

Teresa Odera Earns GPAC Women’s Tennis All-Conference Honors


Congratulations to Teresa Odera for winning an All-Conference Honors for the second year running.  This year, Teresa, was named for honors, in both Womens' Singles and Doubles by The Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC), who recently announced their Women’s Tennis All-Conference selections for 2013. 

This is the second year in a row that Teresa, a former student and Captain of Kenya's top tennis school, Malezi School and player at Sadili Oval Sports Academy, has received the doubles honors, having earned it with team-mate Frankie Eszes as First Doubles. Teresa, an honors student studying Public Relations at North Western College Iowa, is the only international student athlete to receive the All Conference Honors.

Frankie Eszes (Santa Maria, Calif.) and Terry Odera (Nairobi, Kenya) earned first team honors in both singles' and doubles' play. Eszes posted a 9-6 record playing in the top singles' spot, earning first team accolades for the second straight year. Odera registered an 8-5 record at #2 singles and also earned the postseason honor for the second straight year. Eszes and Odera combined to go 5-2 in the top double's spot.

Jami Koens (Brandon, S.D.) and Amanda Bueltel (Estherville, Iowa) earned honorable mention all-conference honors. Koens went 6-11 in singles play, playing mainly in the #3 spot, while combining with Missy Yorchak to go 2-5 in doubles' play. Bueltel led the Red Raiders with a 10-5 singles' record in her first season at NWC. She posted a 6-8 record, along with partner Hannah Stark, playing #3 doubles. 
Northwestern finished fourth in the GPAC with a 3-4 record, 7-11 overall, losing to Nebraska Wesleyan in the GPAC semifinals.