15 Aug 2011 Sadili Players perform well at ITF CAT U14 circuit, Burundi. (1st leg)

Shebani Kabura in action

Sadili players performed well at the just concluded first leg of the ITF/CAT (Confederation of African Tennis) U14 tournament held in Bujumbura, Burundi, with 13 year old Shebani Kabura reaching the finals after beating compatriot Henry Ayesiga 3/6 7/5 6/3 in a closely contested semi-final, and Rwanda's top junior Habiyambere Ernest 3/6 6/0 6/4.  Shebani later lost in the finals to top seed Nkurunziza Saidi of Burundi 5/7 3/6. Henry was winner at the last ITF/CAT U14 event in Nairobi in April this year, had caused an earlier upset in the quater-finals, beating seed 3 Shabani Kassalo (Burundi) 3/6 7/5 6/4.  Other Sadili players, John Dennis Lutaya and Olivier Kigotho met in the first round, with John taking the match 6/1 6/0. Lutaya went on to upset seed 4 Jules Ndibwami 6/0 6/4, advancing to his first quarterfinals this year, where he was stopped by tournament winner and top seed Nkurunziza Saidi (Bur) 6/0 7/5. Newcomer David Nesbitt (USA) won his first round match against Iranyuma Jeze (Bur) 6/2 4/6 7/6(3), then lost to seed 2 Shabani Kassalo (Bur) 1/6 1/6.

Results of matches involving Sadili players were as follows:

1st round Shabani Kabura seed 2 and Henry Ayesiga seed 5 got byes Lutaya John bt Olivier Kigotho 6/1 6/0 David Nesbitt bt Iranyuma Jeze 6/2 4/6 7/6(3) 2nd round Lutaya bt Ndibwami Jules seed 5 6/0 6/4 Ayesiga bt Mohammed Omar 5/7 6/3 6/4 Shabani Kassalo bt Nesbitt 6/1 6/1 Kabura bt John Njau 2/6 6/3 6/4 Quarters Nkurunziza Saidi (1) bt Lutaya 6/0 7/5 Ayesiga bt Kassalo(3) 3/6 7/5 6/4 Kabura bt Habiyambere Ernest 3/6 6/0 6/4 Semis Kabura bt Ayesiga 3/6 7/5 6/3 Finals Nkurunziza saidi bt Kabura 7/5 6/3

The second leg ends on Thursday 18th August 2011.