17th Annual East Africa Safari Junior Tennis Camp Kicks off at Sadili Oval Sports Academy

NAIROBI, August 8, 2016- The 17^th edition of the annual East African Safari Junior Tennis Camp kicks off today at Sadili Oval Sports Centre in Lang’ata, Nairobi, with a select 20 talented children and youth aged between 6 and 18 years from the entire East African region including Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania. The young stars have assembled at the Sports Centre for training and competition that is expected to run until 20^th August 2016.

The Camp this year is proud to host guest coach Mr. Katsuya Otsu, a graduate of the world famous Bolletieri Tennis Academy, professor at the Tokai University’s Department of Sport & Leisure Management and member of the Japan Olympic Academy (JOA). He will spend the second week of the camp working along Kenya’s Dr. Liz Odera and her team. A Tester and Clinician, Liz is currently a member of the PTR International Committee, representing Africa and Provider for Kenya. She was celebrated as a ChangeMakeHer, one of the world’s most influential and inspiring women of 2011 (Ashoka ChangeMaker). Liz is currently taking sport and schooling to world class level by providing a platform for individual talented African athletes to live their dreams, something never before attempted successfully in the region. 

The Safari Junior Tennis Camp also marks the media launch of “Court of Dreams”, a program in which Sadili’s team of coaches, communicators and social educators are engaging a first batch of 640 children in the Kibera Slums in a new partnership with International Inspiration and Comic Relief that will see 2100 children learn tennis, and improve schooling through better hygiene skills. Sadili will also reopen the newly revamped “Court of Dreams” facility at the academy, a facility originally jointly built and named by re-knowned Coach and co-Director of Evolve 9 and Serious Kids Stuff Foundation, Ronald Pothuizen.

Media, friends and partners are invited to visit the camp, which will include the following activities:

8–12 August 2016: Camp Week 1:

9.00 a.m. – 3.00 p.m. at Sadili Oval Sports Academy

3.00 p.m – 6.00 p.m. at Kibera Tennis & Sport Court in Katwekera, Kibera

Thursday 11 August 2016: 3.00 p.m. – 6.30 p.m.: media and partner visit to Court of Dreams project in Kibera, play paddle tennis at the Court of Dreams at Sadili, followed by refreshments at Sadili Oval.

13–14 August 2016: Smashers Challenge Cup No. 4 Tournament at Karen Country Club, sponsored by RentWorks, for players in U12, U14, U16, U18 and U21. This is a Tennis Africa Cup ranking tournament as well as a qualifying Masters event towards the Champions Bowl Finals (Spain, Oct 2016).

13^th August tournament runs from 9.00 a.m. to 4.00 p.m.

14^th August: Finals at 9.00 a.m. and Prize-giving at 11.00 a.m. followed by refreshments.

15–19 August 2016: Camp Week 2:

3.00 p.m. at Sadili Oval Sports Academy,

3.00 p.m – 6.00 p.m. at Kibera Tennis & Sport Court in Katwekera, Kibera

Tuesday 16^th August: 3.00 p.m. – 6.30 p.m.: media and partner visit to Court of Dreams project in Kibera, play paddle tennis at Court of Dreams at Sadili, followed by refreshments at Sadili Oval.

19–21 August 2016: East Africa Junior Tennis Open at Sadili Oval Sports Academy sponsored by Wilson Sporting Goods. Singles and doubles tournament for U6 to U18 boys and girls, this event will bring together more than 150 kids competing at various levels.  Prize-giving will take place on Saturday 20 August at 2.00 p.m., followed by refreshments.