Hassan In Close Call

Sadili's own Hassan continued to impress pundits with his performance at Junior Wimbledon, being the only wild card to go through the qualifying round successfully to enter the second week and making his first kill in the first round of the main draw, and bouncing into the second round with gusto yesterday. After grabbing a strong first set 6-4 and setting up to grab the second, Hassan had to take a rain break at 5-5 against his favoured opponent, Frederico Ferre Silva in what was a nail-biting experience for the crowd that gathered in the dreary English weather to watch an unexpectedly exciting Junior Wimbledon match.

As they returned to resume their match a couple of hours later, it appeared that the news had spread, a little (and only) African boy was playing some inspirational tennis and his match was "a must watch". The stands were full now, and the atmosphere was electric. For Hassan, this was yet another chance to play his best, and he did not let his supporters down, giving as good as he got, varying hos shots between flats, slices, drop shots and topspin, in what was considered by many, and amazingly positive change of game, from the standard fare that has become the style of players at the Grand Slam. Hassan's opponent, Frederico Ferre Silva came into this round having upset the 12th seed of the tournament, and it showed in the level of play, which Hassan made up for with "gutsyness" and sheer wit.

The second set went to Frederico, 7-5 and was followed by a closely contested final set, that saw Hassan lose the set and match at 4-6, down, but not out! This match raised a lot of interest in African Tennis and was widely covered by media. Hassan becomes the first Burundian to play a Wimbledon Junior and an inspiration to all, especially the kids of his former training academy, Sadili Oval, on the outskirts of Kibera, Africa's largest slum, who received a blow by blow account through friends and Hassan himself (afterwards). 

Hassan Progresses To 2nd Round In Wimbledon

As Wimbledon giants Tomas Berdych, Serena and Venus Williams tumbled, East Africans had reason to smile as Hassan Ndayishimiye of Burundi today successfully made it through the first round of Wimbledon, beating Mattias Sborowitz of China, 6-3, 6-4  in the junior boys draw. Hassan, who had to go through a tough qualifying draw that saw him play and win against World class juniors,
He is poised to meet Frederico Frere Silva of Portugal, who beat the 12th seed of the boys tournament to earn a second round berth.

Hassan, hails from Buyenzi, a slum in the heart of Burundi, where his father, a coach at a local tennis club, first introduced him to tennis. Hassan was at 9 years, spotted by a international professional player, Martin Dzuwa, playing in the back courts of the club, and he persuaded a local member, Kassie McIlvaine, to send him to a humble little 3-court tennis centre at the edge of Kibera, Africa's largest slum in Nairobi, Kenya called Sadili Oval Sports Academy, where he honed his skills and the watchful eye of PTR Professional Dr. Liz Odera, and finally went to formal school, for 4 years, before returning home.

Hassan received a scholarship to the ITF Centre in Pretoria, where he has been for the last two years, and which changed his tennis life immensely, as he was able to play many top level tournaments in Africa and more lately in Europe. Many of his friends and opponents alike, will remember Hassan, and how he lit up the tennis stage in Kenya, as a little boy, challenging and often winning matches against top juniors, many three to four times his age. Hassan's stab at Wimbledon is an inspiration to many children of Buyenzi, many of whom, like him, work as hitters for the rich at the local tennis club. For them now, the sky is the limit. Kassie continues to watch and care for Hassan, and she was there to watch him win his first singles round at Wimbledon. This win makes Hassan the first Burundi national in history to advance in the main draw of Wimbledon.

3 June 2011 Hassan Gets His First Chance At Wimbledon

Hassan at the AJC zonals in Kenya last year, with compatriot Amadi Kagoma of Sadili, where they took the doubles and the boys top award for Burundi

Sadili Oval former player, Hassan Ndayashimiye, will bring the little tennis programme to the forefront this month, when he plays qualifiers at the coming Wimbledon Grand Slam in England. Many Kenyans will remember how he scillintated the tennis scene between 2004 and 2007.

Hassan was born on 12th August 1994, the son of a hitter at a local tennis club in Bujumbura. Hassan started to play early in life, finding solace from the slums, where there was very little happening, and earning some little money each day from picking balls and later hitting with senior members, and taking home to his mother to help out with daily survival. Everyone knew Hassan for his spritely and sunny personality, and he quicky became loved by members and visitors alike. It was this that got him noticed by Kassie McIlvaine, who was working with CARE are Country Director. Hassan was only 8 years old at the time, and already she could see his talent, and knew that he could go far with the right help and change of circumstances. In fact, Kassie often joked with Hassan about , "When you get to Wimbledon...."
In 2003, An ITF East and Central Africa event was held in Bujumbura, and Kassie, always an avid tennis fan, went out to watch. There she met a couple of tennis players from Kenya. She admired their game, and got talking to them about places to play and study in Kenya. She finally made up her mind to bring Hassan to Dr. Liz Odera at Sadili Oval and the adjoining Malezi School, after chatting with Martin Dzuwa, who won an ITF Money Circuit later that year. Hassan's first comment when he landed in JKIA and met Dr. Liz was, "now this is my home, I am going to live here, and I am going to beat everybody in tennis, even the biggest and the best". And indeed, after a painful beginning in which he struggled to adjust his strokes, grow a little stronger (Kassie placed an order for extra milk every day), and stay committed to serious training, Hassan went on to humble many unfortunate local players from under 12 to under 16 years. Hassan stayed at Sadili for four years before returning home, performing well at an ITF U14 event, and qualifying for a place at the ITF Centre in Pretoria, where he has worked under the watchful eye of Dermott Sweeney and Margaret Owen.
His performance continued to improve, playing regional tournaments for his country (AJC, each year, with his compatriot Amadi Kagoma, who is now at Sadili Oval Talent Training Academy), and in the European Circuit. Last month, he reached a record high of 113 ITF rank, making him the two top East African to reach this level in the last 20 years, the other being Vitulli of Kenya, who is now a student at Georgia State University in the USA. Kassie's belief in Hassan has come true, and, while ITF provides for his schooling, training and tournaments, she continues to work hard to support Hassan, treating him as her own son, following his progress closely, buying him racquets, kit and sometimes arranging for his transportation when it is not available. His former coach and mentor, Liz Odera and his close friends in Sadili provide him with important moral support and advise, firmly believing that Hassan will make it in the end.

WIN - LOSS	Win	Loss
Current Year Singles	8	8
Current Year Doubles	9	7
Career Singles	59	26
Career Doubles	43	24

SINGLES RESULTS FOR HASSAN NDAYASHIMIYE (BURUNDI)
33rd Torneo Internazionale "Citta' Di Santa Croce" Mauro Sabatini				Italy
	09 May 2011 to 15 May 2011		Entry: DA	Clay (O)
64	Won first round	Matias SBOROWITZ (CHI)		6-3 6-2
32	Won second round	Patrik FABIAN (SVK)		6-3 7-6(4)
16	Lost 3rd round	Karim HOSSAM (EGY)		4-6 3-6
19th International Junior Tournament Citta' Di Prato				Italy
	03 May 2011 to 08 May 2011		Entry: DA	Clay (O)
64	B	()		BYE
32	Won second round	Tendai TAPFUMA (ZIM)		6-4 7-5
16	Won 3rd round	Jens HAUSER (SUI)		6-1 6-4
QF	Won quarterfinals	Jan ZEDNIK (CZE)		6-4 3-6 6-2
SF	Lost semifinals	Moos SPORKEN (NED)		4-6 0-6
28th International Tournament of Salsomaggiore				Italy
	25 Apr 2011 to 01 May 2011		Entry: LL	Clay (O)
64	Lost first round	Gianluigi QUINZI (ITA)		2-6 1-6
28th International Tournament of Salsomaggiore Qualifying Draw				Italy
	23 Apr 2011 to 24 Apr 2011		Entry: DA	Clay (O)
64	Won first round	Fabio MERCURI (ITA)		6-2 6-2
32	Won second round	Fedor BAEV (NOR)		7-6(1) 6-4
16	Lost third round	Pietro RONDONI (ITA)		6-7(5) 3-6
36th City of Florence International Tournament				Italy
	20 Apr 2011 to 25 Apr 2011		Entry: DA	Clay (O)
64	B	()		BYE
32	Lost second round	James Junior STORME (BEL)		3-6 6-2 5-7
34th African Closed Junior Championships				Botswana
	04 Apr 2011 to 08 Apr 2011		Entry: DA	Hard (O)
32	B	()		BYE
16	Won third round	Tuki JACOBS (NAM)		6-7(5) 6-2 6-3
QF	Lost quarterfinals	Karim HOSSAM (EGY)		2-6 4-6

29 May 2011 Sadili Oval Boys Tennis Take Top Berth in 14s

Sadili's Shebani Kabura took a break from class to grab the top boys 14 and Under position from his team mate and tournament favourite, Henry Ayesiga at this year's Wanjiku Ngaruiya Tennis Tournament, held at JD Tennis Academy, Nairobi. The match, which was one of the longest of the day, earned Shebani a win in 3 sets 2-6, 6-3, 6-1. Shebani has earlier won against another team mate and newest addition to the academy, 12 year old Olivier in two straight sets 6-2, 6-1.

31 May 2011 SADILI COMPETE IN JOHN PACKARD FAMILY CUP

The Academy participated in JOHN PACKARD FAMILY CUP  a junior soccer tournament in Kibera, featuring in three categories, Boys U-14 & 16 and Girls under 15.

The boy’s U -14 team started their campaign by thumping Red Arrows 6 -1 and tied with the slum soccer 1 – 1. In the knock out stage, Sadili boys pip (defeated) their bitter rivals Shofco Juniors on a penalty shoot out, this happened after Shofco equalized on a controversial goal leading to 1 – 1 normal time scores. In the quarter finals we lost to Makina youth who capitalized on our mistakes and the chances that we squandered. Comments from the officials and all who attended agreed that it was like a final match, as it wooed all onlookers and made the referee sweat as he officiated. This match killed the anxiety of watching the finals which turned out not to be as exciting as the Sadili boys had carried the day with the match they had displayed earlier.

The U-16 boys on the other hand had more matches to play on group stages. Playing Gyff, we won 2-0 then thrashed Lazio 3-2. We then drew 2-2 to Uweza at a ragged Toi primary pitch and on muddy Woodley ground 1-1 to Shofco Juniors. The team also lost in the quarter final to a fancied Atlas FC 4-2.

In the girls category, Sadili had a good run and looked like the tournament's favorite. In group stages, Sadili beat Kibera girl soccer 1- 0 before aging out Terror Squad 3 – 0. In the quarter finals, Sadili Queens thrashed Uweza Foundation 7 – 0. In the semi-finals, due to overconfidence and hence loss of focus, Sadili drew 0-0 to Carolina for Kibera. This led to penalties where Sadili lost 2-1 and had to play the third position. They won with ease against Hamlets 1-0 on a one sided match after Sadili captain EVELINE AICHO was awarded the “golden boot” for being the top scorer.