When Tennis Runs in the Family

Allan Bahati playing

It all started with Allan Bahati a 14 year old and second born of the family. During one of our sessions at the Kibera tennis court he came out and tried playing tennis since then he never stopped later the first born Jerry Masika decided to tag along out of curiosity he really wanted to see what really his sibling was into and just like that he got hooked too and the small brother Hezron Tajiri who is 11 couldn’t be left behind as the others went for the tennis sessions he also tagged along and later became part of the squad.

The three children come from Lindi located in the large slum of Kibera being raised by a single mother who support their passion of playing tennis as long as all the house chores are done you are free to go for the tennis sessions that’s what she says. The three boys have grown playing tennis from a young age till now they are all grown Allan and Jerry have joined different high schools leaving Tajiri in Primary but that has not stopped Tajiri from coming for the Saturday sessions and the brothers usually join for the holiday camps held at Sadili after they have closed schools.

“What impresses me is their determination and zeal. They are eager to learn and they are disciplined. Whatever rules I have set they usually follow to the latter be it keeping time or observing the different tennis rules”, say Coach Asha Adongo. During a short interview with the three brothers, Jerry wants be a professional Tennis player and a Neurosurgeon, Allan wants to be an Engineer and Tajiri wants to become a doctor in future.

Despite the distance from their home to Sadili, that doesn’t stop them from coming for the tennis sessions in fact they even get to Sadili earlier than those who come from around with the motivation of learning a new skill each time and they are always the last to leave as they want to practice with each other whatever they have learnt .It is here at Sadili where we nature the talent of the young ones and see them grow and blossom.

Hezron Tajiri before the game