Gor Mahia - Sadili Set Up Junior Soccer Academy Program

George Bwana (Gor Secretary General), Gordon Oluoch
(Commissioner for Sport) & James Odera
(Chairman, Sadili Oval Sports Academy)

2013 Premier League winners, GOR MAHIA FOOTBALL CLUB today signed an MOU with top regional training school, Sadili Oval Sports Academy, to jointly set up a world class football academy system for players in the U9 to U15 category, in order to provide a strong field of talent from which selection to the senior teams can be done in the future. They will share technical expertise and offer opportunities to select players to train with or play for Gor Mahia in the future.

Sadili players with Gor Technical Team

In his speech read on behalf of the Chairman, Mr. Owuor Ominde, the Treasurer of Gor Mahia, said, "This partnership marks the first feeder program for any Premier League team in Kenya, and leads the way in football development in the region. Mr. Abok James Odera, Chairman of the Board of Sadili Oval Sports Academy, welcomed additional partners and sponsors both locally and internationally to ensure the success of the program.

Dr. Liz Odera, Sadili Executive Director

Speaking for the Government, the Commissioner for Sports, Mr. Gordon Oluoch, reiterated the need for all clubs to emulate what Gor Mahia has done, adding that the government is keen to also establish county sports academies to help identify and defend talent. 

Also present was the Head Coach of Gor Mahia, Mr. Bobby Williamson, who felt that it was encouraging to see a program that included schooling, as it ensured that players get a good education, and combine football with other careers.

Sadili's renowned director, Dr. Liz Odera said that, to jumpstart the talent selection process, a first camp shall be held at Sadili Oval in Langata from 3rd to 7th December 2013. This camp is open to players from within the East African region.

Gor Stars flanked by young academy recruits

Gor Mahia is a leading football club based in Kenya, playing the Premier League, and is a brand that enjoys a strong national and international following. Gor Mahia Football club was formed on February 17 1968 following the amalgamation of Luo Union FC and Luo Stars football clubs. Through the years, Gor Mahia has participated in many top Africa and regional tournaments, performing well and building their brand as one of the most exciting senior club teams in the continent.

SADILI OVAL SPORTS ACADEMY is East Africa’s top academy, an international brand for youth sport and education development.

Sadili Soccer Academy provides opportunities for students to integrate their personal interests with their education in preparation for university and all of their life journeys. We have been in operation, offering top class soccer training for the last 22 years, and worked with more than 7,000 children and youth, and growing into a professionally run organization.

Picture: left to right - George Bwana, Gor Secretary General, Gordon Oluoch, Commissioner for Sports, A. J. Odera, Chairman of Sadili Oval Sports Academy at the signing of the MOU.

Sadili Opens First Red Courts In East Africa!

Re-knowned Coach and co-Director of Evolve9 and Serious Kids Stuff Foundation, Mr. Ronald Pothuizen, and the Tennis Kenya Chairman, Mrs. Paurvi Rawal, today officially opened East Africa’s first purpose-built Under Tens Red Court, at Sadili Oval Sports Academy, in Langata, under the excited eyes of 72 junior players from Kibera and Langata.

Ronald Pothuizen guides a stroke

The Red Courts dubbed The Court Of Dreams, is the first of a long-term partnership, in the development of tennis for children who are ten years and below, a group often forgotten in the game. Through this partnership, Sadili has received funding to further 4 tennis courts through Serious Kids Stuff, receive basic junior training equipment from Topspin (Germany), and shall continue to receive regular technical support towards the training of youth coaches through Evolve9. Although the program is open to all Kenyans, the first beneficiaries at the year-long facility, are children from the slums of Kibera and Langata residents.

Happy expectant faces

Asked for her thoughts, the Director and Head Professional at Sadili said, "We have found found the missing link, and we will perform even better in the game. It is hoped that, the academy can grow into a sustainable program, a beacon of success for other constituencies to follow".

Ronald Pothuizen demonstrates

Red Courts Ready For Action!

Yasin running a successful session

Henry Ayesiga Earns Scholarship To Top US Tennis Academy

Henry Ayesiga of Sadili Africa Talent Training Academy (SATTA), has begun a three-week training stint at The Junior Tennis Champions Center in College Park, Maryland, in what will be a major boost to his tennis career. The Junior Tennis Champions Center (JTCC) is a world class training program located in Washington DC Metropolitan Area, and was founded in 1999 to provide opportunities to talented junior players from diverse backgrounds. to date, JTCC has been home to 11 national champions in the past 5 years, including Denis Kudla, Junior Ore and Mitchell Frank, who are three of the top U16 Boys in the world. JTCC also boasts five athletes, currently playing professional circuits. JTCC is the USTA's first recognized Regional Tennis Training Center.

Henry on clay court at JTCC

Says HeadPro and Director at Sadili, Dr. Liz Odera, "Henry has worked very hard and remained discipline and consistent. Our new partnership with JTCC, courtesy of NJTL National Manager, Dan Limbago, has ensured that we can finally give him and chance of a lifetime, to train with some of the best in the world." Henry Ayesiga has been the ended 2011 at Number 2 in Under 14 Boys in the Confederation of Africa Tennis (CAT) ranking. He is also the National Secondary Schools Sports Association 2013 Boys Singles Champion and helped his school win the Boys Title at the East Africa School Games in August. Says Henry, "I love my tennis, and I always look for new challenges. Going to JTCC is a big eye opener for me, and I really thank Dan and Dr. Liz for working hard to get this wonderful opportunity, but also Amolo and Carlos for believing in me". Asked if he hopes to become a professional player, Henry hesitates and then says slowly, "Don't get me wrong, I love tennis. But I think I also need to get a good education, so college tennis is the direction for me."

Sadili Oval Sports Academy, a not-for-profit, holds an NJTL - USTA honorary recognition for the great work done with children's tennis and education in East Africa. Sadili remains the most successful tennis academy in the region, producing a large majority of the junior stars, while offering them an opportunity for a solid education. 

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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).