Monday, August 19, 2013

Sunday, August 18, 2013

EA Safari Junior Tennis Camp Comes To A Close

The 14th annual  East Africa Safari Junior Tennis came to a close on Sunday 18th August 2013 after 14 days of quality learning under some of Africa's best professionals: 1. Mr. John Kasule, PTR Professional, Clinician and Tester, and Administrator of the Uganda Lawn Tennis Association, 2. Katsuya Otsu, Professor at Department of Sport & Leisure Management School of Physical Education at Tokai University Japan and a member of the Japan Olympic Committee and Global Sports Alliance, 3. Dr. Liz Odera, International Tennis Professional, PTR Clinician and Tester, as well as camp director. The Camp Coordinator was Rehema Akinyi, under whom the camp and tournament program was managed, with a program that included Training at Sadili Oval, Smashers Challenge Tournament at Karen Country Club, Second Training at Sadili Oval, and the East Africa Junior Open at Sadili Oval.

Players who attended include Uganda’s rising stars, Frank Tayebwa, Saidat Kemugisha, Boris Aguma and Winnie Birungi, while Burundi was well represented by little-known rising star in the girls under 12s, Hoziane Kitambala. Malezi School tennis team, the Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association's Boys Champions Henry Ayesiga, John Lutaays, Jamin Luvembe and Girls Doubles Champions Melissa Brown and Chizi Mutsumi also used the camp for preparation to the East Africa School Games that will be held in Lira, Uganda soon. Tennis has been included for the first time, and competition is expected to be tough.

A brainchild of International Tennis Professionals and managed by Sadili Oval Sports Academy since its inception 14 years ago, this camp remains the most prestigious event in the tennis calendar in the region, and continues to attract large numbers of talented junior players between 6 and 18 years, from USA, Africa and Europe, to train and also compete in the East African Junior Tennis Open that marks the end of each camp, annually. Professional coaches who have attended the camp in the past include Coach Bill Murray (former coach of Venus and Serena Williams), Greg Moran, top coach and celebrated writer, and Paul Holbach, Coach of Lindsay Davenport. The camp is sponsored by Professional Tennis Registry, NJTL, Sadili Oval, Global Sports Alliance, Oncourt Offcourt and Sarova Hotels.

The event also marks a well-supported one-year Star Search, that is taking place around the East African region, beginning in Nairobi during the Junior Camp in December, then followed by Mombasa, and running through Kisumu, Kampala, Bujumbura, Kigali, Arusha, before completing its journey back in Nairobi in November. Products of this camp include Amadi Kagoma, Maurice Wamukowa, Rahab Mbugua, Joab Odera, Aziza Butoyi, Terry Odera  and Amadi Kagoma (all currently based in USA).

In an interview at the camp, Dr. Liz Odera said, "We have successfully produced two decades of great junior tennis players, and its time to begin a new cycle of stars who perform well, in both school and tennis. Arrangements have been concluded to make this even better with new programs coming up to make this possible with the expansion of the Sadili Africa Talent Training Academy, which includes international learning support and expanded schooling partnerships".









Kasombo Tops For Kenya In Regional Tennis Open



Spectators were treated to an exciting time at the EA Junior Open when the Boys U-18 saw Robert Kasombo (Kenya) beat John Lutaaya (Uganda) 6-4 6-4, to lift the title.  Kasombo had earlier overcome Josephat Garo (Kenya) 7-6(4) 7-6(1)  in a close semi-finals,while John Lutaaya (Uganda), upset top seed Amon Muinde 3-6 6-4 [10-7]  in another close encounter. The finals was a serious clash of wills, with Kasombo eventually prevailing 6-4 6-4. The pair of brothers (dubbed the "Nzuki Brothers") Kasombo/Muinde, showed a sign of great wins to come for Kenya, when they beat Garo/Lutaaya 6-2 7-5 in what spectators agreed was the most exciting doubles finals in recent past.

The Boys U-16 was an all-Ugandan affair, with Frank Tayebwa beating Boris Aguma 7-5 6-4 to lift the title from a field of 16 of the best boys from the region. Ian Okungu (Kenya) won the Boys-U12 ahead of compatriot Solomon Maloba (Kenya), while Antony Owita (Kenya) took the books U-14 with 40 points with Davis Matanda (Kenya) as runner-up with 30 points.

In the girls U-14, Saidat Kemugisha (Uganda) took on Winnie Birungi (Uganda) in the semi-finals, winning 6-3 6-4 before dominating over Elizabeth Aluoch (Kenya) 6-2 6-2 to win the title with ease. Saidat/Birungi took home the G-U14 Doubles for Uganda.

Other results included the following:
Girls U-8 Singles: Winner: Angela Luanga, Rup: Princess Diana
Boys U10 Singles: Winner: Juma Evans, Rup: Alex Mweti
Girls U10 Singles: Winner: Mary Asiko, Rup: Sharon Anyango

The EA Safari Junior Tennis Camp and the Junior Open is the main platform for juniors from within the region to showcase their talent, in order to receive technical support as well as compete for limited scholarships available every four years at the Sadili Africa Talent Training Academy. Recipients of the 6 scholarships available will be announced at the beginning of September 2013.

The EA Junior Open is a level B ranking tournament recognized by the Tennis Africa Cup (www.tennisafrica.info).










Saturday, August 10, 2013

Malezi Team Lift The National Tennis Award 2013!

Defending Champions, Malezi School, partner of Sadili Talent Training Academy, led by captain, Jamin Luvembe, once again lifted the National Schools Secondary Sports Association trophy, after trouncing
all opposition to reach the finals of the boys singles, boys doubles and girls doubles, as representative team from the Metropolitan Games. In the Boys Singles semi-finals, Henry Ayesiga 
singles, Henry beat Aberdare Player 1 in  2 sets to 0 of 4-2 4-1, then advanced to the finals where he trounced team mate Isiah Etale 4-1 4-0 to complete an undefeated run.

The Girls Doubles saw the first pair of Melissa Brown/Chizi Mutsumi down Lake Region in 2 straight sets 4-0 4-1 in the semifinals, before pushing for a quick finals against Nzoia, which they won 4-0 4-0.
The boys doubles had last year's undefeated pair JaminLuvembe/John Lutaaya, who quickly dispatched of Nakuru 4-1 4-0, and barely broke sweat to down Lake Region 4-0 4-0.



Tennis will, for the first time ever, feature in the East African Ball Games, and the players, who will be undergoing further training at Sadili Oval Sports Academy, will be pleased to represent Kenya and Malezi School there, from 22nd August to 2nd September 2013. Says their coach Dr. Liz Odera, "We will need to stay focused throughout and prepare well, so that we can perform to the best of our ability, and bring the trophy home."

As national champions for over 11 years, why not?

Wednesday, August 7, 2013

Malezi Hold Firm At Nationals As They Head to Tennis Semis

Jamin Luvembe
Henry Ayesiga (Boys Player 1), Chizi Mutsumi /Melissa Brown (girls doubles), JaminLuvembe/John Lutaaya (boys doubles) continue to brave the rain, as they march to the semi-fianls at this year's Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association (KSSSA), Term 2 National Ball Games held in Embu. In the boys singles, Malezi remains unbeaten as Henry does not drop a single game, trouncing Nzoia 4-0, Nakuru 4-0 and Lake Region 4-0.

The Girls Doubles Team Of Chizi/Melissa have played and won two matches, winning against Central 4-2, and Nakuru 4-1.

Jamin/John have not disappointed the fans, as they mauled Lake Region  4-0, Nzoia 4-0 and  Eastern 4-1 in their run to the semi-finals, which will be played tomorrow.


Saturday, August 3, 2013

Upsets At The Langata Junior Tennis Championships


LANGATA JUNIOR TENNIS CHIAMPIONSHIP

The Langata Junior Championships at Sadili Oval Sports Academy was today hit with major upsets when KLTA top-ranked player and Under 18 Boys number 1 seed, Sheil Kotecha lost to Sadili Oval’s John Lutaaya in a surprising twist of events, in which both players won a set each and settled down to closing it off with a super set that Lutaaya won 10-7.  
Sheil Kotecha lost in final set to John Lutaaya
The other major upset saw 2nd seed Robert Kasombo Nzuki, lose to 3rd seed Henry Ayesiga 6/2 7/6 (7).  Impala’s Marie Owino grabbed the Girls U14 beating Tonia Kubai 6.3 6/3, while Sadili’s Belinda Awino showed her dominance in the Girls Under 12 against team mate Alice Ayoma 6/2 6/2. Newest young talent from the Kibera slums, Charles Ochieng, overcame Impala’s Jacobs Sergelen 6/1 6/4 to lift the Boys Under 12 6/1 6/4.
Henry Ayesiga is through to Boys U18 Finals

The Boys Under 18, pitting fourth seed Amon Muinde, against Henry Ayesiga, will be played tomorrow morning.
This tournament is the first of a series of events in the Nairobi County Tennis Association, that will be run in various parts of the city.

BSU-12

Charles Ochieng v/s Jacobs Sergelen 6/1,6/4
Ian Okungu v/s Peter Kiama 2/6,6/7(5)
Charles Ochieng v/s Ian Okungu 6/0,6/0
Peter Kiama v/s Jacobs Sergelen 2/6,1/6
Ian Okungu v/s Jacobs Sergelen not played Jacobs lost

Winner: Charles Ochieng
Runner-up: Jacobs Sergelen

GSU-12
Alice Ayoma v/s Belinda Awino 3/6,2/6
 Winner: Belinda Awino
 Runner-up: Alice Ayoma

BSU-14
Jain Anchit v/s Antony Owita 1/6,1/6
Jain Anchit v/s Charles Ochieng 0/6,0/6
Jain Anchit v/s Davis Matanda 0/6,1/6
Antony Owita v/s Charles Ochieng 6/1,6/2
Antony Owita v/s Davis Matanda 6/4,6/1
Marie Owino Wins Girls Under 14
Charles Ochieng v/s Davis Matanda 3/6,2/6

Winner:Antony Owita
Runner-up: Davis Matanda

GSU-14
Elizabeth Aluoch v/s Marie Owino 0/6,3/6
Marie Owino v/s Tonia Kubai 6/3,6/3
Elizabeth Aluoch v/s Tonia Kubai 1/6,3/6

Winner: Marie Owino
Runner-up:Tonia Kubai

BSU-18
Sheil Kotecha v/s John Lutaaya 6/7(5),7/5[7-10]
Ronax Otieno v/s Sylvester Juma 3/6,6/3[10-7]
Henry Ayesiga v/s Randiek Randall 6/2,6/3
Randiek Randall v/s David Mukhwana 6/1,6/3
Wycliffe Okenye v/s Josephat Garo 2/6,7/6(4)[10-7]


Langata Junior Tennis Championships


BS 18





Tennis Tournament Planner - www.tournamentsoftware.com




Round 1
Round 2
Quarterfinals
Semifinals
Final
Winner







1
Kotecha Sheil [1]







Kotecha Sheil [1]




2
Bye 1








John Lutaaya



3
Bye 9

6-7(5) 7-5 [10-7] 





John Lutaaya




4
John Lutaaya









Muinde Amon [4]


5
Otieno Ronex


6-4 6-2




Otieno Ronex




6
Juma Sylvester
3-6 6-3 [10-7] 







Muinde Amon [4]



7
Bye 12

6-2 6-2 





Muinde Amon [4]




8
Muinde Amon [4]











1.
9
Ayesiga Henry [3]







Ayesiga Henry [3]




10
Bye 11








Ayesiga Henry [3]



11
Randiek Randall

6-2 6-3 





Randiek Randall




12
Mukhwana David
6-1 6-3 








Ayesiga Henry [3]


13
Okenye Wycliff


6-2 7-6(7)




Okenye Wycliff




14
Garo Josphat
2-6 7-6(4) [10-7] 







Kasombo Robert [2]


2.
15
Bye 2

6-2 6-1 





Kasombo Robert [2]




16
Kasombo Robert [2]

































BS 18 - Consolation





Round 1
Round 2
Round 3
Quarterfinals
Semifinals
Final








Bye














Bye












Bye

Okenye Wycliff












Okenye Wycliff












Juma Sylvester














Juma Sylvester












Bye














Randiek Randall












Bye


John Lutaaya











Mukhwana David












Mukhwana David

Otieno Ronex






4-2 2-4 [18-16] 





Otieno Ronex












Garo Josphat














Garo Josphat