Surprise Wins At East Africa Junior Tennis Open

2012 National Schools Doubles Champion, Jamin Luvembe (Kenya) today defeated Amadi Kagoma (Burundi) 6/4 6/3 in at outstanding display of swift returns and amazing angles, breaking the Burundian's long reign to become the reigning Champion, at the annual East Africa Junior Tennis Open held at Sadili Oval Sports Academy in Langata, Nairobi. Henry Ayesiga came third after beating Richard Ooko 6.2. In the girls Under 18s, 15 year old Chizi Mutsumi (Kenya) beat Lorna Bhwenjje (Kenya) 6/1 6/4 to lift the crown. The girls Under 16 saw Chizi once again grab the trophy, after beating Melissa Brown (Tanzania) 6/3 6/2. Antonia Szapary (Austria) was third. In the Boys 16s, Henry Ayesiga (Uganda) played a long and difficult match against Robert Kasombo (Kenya), slipping through 4-6 6-2 12-10 too finals, where he beat John Lutaaya (Uganda) 6/2 6/1. Amon Muinde was third. Fourth seed Shivam Shah made short work of his opponents Byron Omondi (Kenya) 6/1 6/0, upset 2nd seed Wycliffe Okenye (Kenya) 6/2 6/4, and beat top seed Ronex Otieno (Kenya) 6/1 6/2 to take the Boys Under 14s. Wycliffe Okenye was third. The girls Under 12s was an exciting array for matches in a 16-draw that saw Alissa Thakker meet Tatiana Szapary (Austria) in the finals, winning 4/1 4/0. Little known Elizabeth Aluoch was third, after beating favourite Prisha Shah 5-3. The Boys 10s discovered new talent, with Kael Shah winning all matches, and closely followed by Hilary Atsango who lost to him 4-11 in their final. Ian Okungu was third.

The four-day event which attracted 74 entries, displayed major talent from some of the best children from Kenya, Uganda, Burundi, Tanzania, UK and Austria. The Kenya Lawn Tennis Association (KLTA) Chairman, Mrs. Paurvi Rawal, was on hand to give prizes at the closing event and encouraged players to continue to play tournaments, confirming that this tournament will receive recognition and ranking by the association. Th tournament concludes this year's East Africa Safari Junior Tennis Camp, which was sponsored by Sadili val's partners, who included Tamarind Group, Sarova Group, Millfield School, and Virgin Atlantic, amongst others.

Julie Simkins At Safari Junior Tennis Camp

Julie Simkins, Tennis Professional is in Kenya, for the East Africa Safari Junior Tennis Camp, courtesy of Virgin Atlantic Airways, Sarova Group and Tamarind Group and powered by Dartfish. The camp, which has attracted 67 talented boys and girls from various communities, for three days, ending on Thursday, and will be followed by the East Africa Junior Open.

 Julie has been coaching at Millfield for fourteen years and in that time there have been many highlights. Most notably, coaching 2 national champions, winning several national schools age group titles and representing Great Britain at the World Student Games in 2007, as women's team coach. She is a former World ranked player in both singles and doubles (1995-96) and have won 2 conference titles whilst representing Arkansas State and Northeast Louisiana Universities. She now competes in veterans competitions and have had the privilege of representing my country (Great Britain) in the over 35's World Team Championships in 2009. 
















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Virgin to Jet In Top Coaches For East Africa’s Top Junior Events

Virgin Atlantic Airways, will be jetting in 3 top coaches on Monday 13th August to provide expertise at a one week training camp in partnership with Sadili Oval. Millfield School the top UK sports school will be bringing in three professional coaches, who will be working with local talent in tennis, fitness and rugby, in what will be one of the best sports camps in the region. In addition Kenya's own International Basketball Proessional Coach, Ronnie Owino, will be heading an excellent local team in running a top performance basketball camp. The camps, which run at Sadili Oval and in Kibera, is expected to bring in about 100 youth aged between 8 and 18 years and will run from 11^th to the 19^th August 2012. Scholarships have been granted to children from around the region. Other sponsors include Sarova Group, Carnivore, Professional Tennis Registry and Dartfish.

Meet the Coaches:

Julie Simkins, Tennis Professional

Julie has been coaching at Millfield for fourteen years and in that time there have been many highlights. Most notably, coaching 2 national champions, winning several national schools age group titles and representing Great Britain at the World Student Games in 2007, as women's team coach. She is a former World ranked player in both singles and doubles (1995-96) and have won 2 conference titles whilst representing Arkansas State and Northeast Louisiana Universities. She now competes in veterans competitions and has had the privilege of representing  Great Britain in the over 35's World Team Championships in 2009. We came fourth.

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Safari Junior Tennis Camp Kicks off!!!

On Monday 6 2012 The Safari Junior Tennis Camp kicked off once again. It is the largest tennis camp in east and central Africa having hosted many children of different ages from 6 to 18 years. The camp is held at Sadili Oval Sports Club and has been going on for the last twelve years and has had many famous coaches come to volunteer including Paul Holbach former coach to Lindsay Davenport, William Murray former coach to the Williams Sisters, Former Cornell University Coach David Geatz, Dan James USTA national wheelchair tennis manager and many others.

Fabrizio Caldarone

Ann Guerrant 

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This years expected top  players are; Fabrizio Caldarone and former world number 11 Ann Guerrant who has played against and beat players like Billie Jean King and Maria Navratilova. Mr. Caldarone has worked with famous players like Maria Sharapova, Ivan Ljubicic, David Ferrer, Juan Carlos Ferrero, Albert Costa, Guillermo Coria, Patrick Rafter, Nicolas Kiefer, Olivier Rochus, Dudi Sela, Davide Sanguinetti, Maria Sharapova,  and Nadia Petrova among others.

Mr. Caldarone is expected to jet in at 1220 on the 7th August, and will spend the first week of the camp working with Kenya’s own, Dr. Liz Odera and her team, on developing young local and regional talent

The East Africa Safari Junior Tennis Camp remains the regions premier platform for showcasing 80 of the region’s talent, and will, this year, have representation from Uganda, Tanzania, Sudan, Rwanda and Burundi. The Camp, sponsored by Virgin Atlantic, Carnivore, Professional Tennis Registry, Dartfish and Head, amongst others  and shall include the following activities:

6 – 10 August 2012: Camp 1 at Sadili Oval Sports Academy
11 – 12 August 2012: Smashers Challenge Tournament at Karen Country Club

13 – 17 August 2012: Camp 2 at Sadili Oval Sports Academy

15 – 17 August 2012: East Africa Junior Tennis Tournament at Sadili Oval Sports Academy  


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Virgin Tour is a Success

2012 Emerging Players: Zack Okong'o Basil (Cptn), Henry Ayesiga, Ignatius Ouma, Olivier Kigotho, Chizi Mutsumi, Shebani Kabura, Annie Lord, Emily Stonewigg and Sascha Taylor

Sadili Oval Tennis Academy select team has jetted back to Nairobi from a successful Emerging Players Virgin Atlantic UK Tour 2012,touring Somerset in England. The team, comprising of tennis and basketball players, received intense technical and tactical training and match play with Millfield and Taunton. Basketball saw two players, Zack Okong’o Basil and Ignatius Ouma, Captain and team member, respectively, of Malezi School basketball team, first time semi-finalists at the Nairobi Provincial playoffs in March this year. This year, a young ladies formed part of the emerging players team: Chizi Mutsumi (15 years, Malezi School), Emily Stonewigg (13 years, Banda School), Sasha Taylor (12 years, Banda School) and recent ITF/CAT tournament semi-finalist, Annie Lord (12 years, Banda), who received first time experience on tour to prepare them for coming tournaments through tough practice matches against more experienced and well-heeled Millfield Tennis Academy Girls Team, who are ranked third in UK.

Malezi Boys Second Team won their meet against Millfield School with a trouncing of Millfield School Second Team under grey skies in Somerset. Third singles, Olivier Kigotho, beat C. Martin 6/0 7/6 (4) in a power game that lasted only 38 minutes, while Shebani Kabura and Henry Ayesiga were pushed to play their best, winning against 2nd singles Ross Price and 3rd singles Giles, 6/4 7/5 and 7/5 4/6 (8), to grab all three matches within 2 hours of play.  Malezi also won both doubles matches, winning 6/2 and 6/0.

The Emerging Players UK Tour, a partnership between Virgin Atlantic and Sadili Oval, enteres its 4^th year and offers special training and matchplay exposure opportunity to young talented players from Malezi School to play at some of UK's top tennis schools. Malezi School has been reigning champion in tennis in the Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association Ball Games for the last 12 years. Millfield School, who hosted the players this tour, is amongst the top three tennis schools in the UK. "With these results, we are hoping to be considered for the senior team that will play for Malezi School at the next ball games", says Henry.

4 Aug 2011 EA SAFARI JUNIOR TENNIS CAMP BY SADILI BEGINS

Lorna (Kenya), Izzy (UK), Shebani (Burundi), Byron (Kenya)

East African junior tennis stars have arrived for this year’s East Africa Safari Junior Tennis Camp, which is slotted to take place from the 1^st to 14^thAugust 2011. A brainchild of International Tennis Professionals worldwide and managed by Kenya’s own Sadili Oval Sports Academy since its inception 12 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. Previous coaches who have attended the camp include Coach Bill Murray (former coach of Venus and Serena Williams), and Paul Holbach, Coach of Lindsay Davenport. The camp is sponsored by Professional Tennis Registry, Sadili Oval, Tamarind, Global Sports Alliance and Sarova Hotels. The camp shall include a warmup tournament from 6-7 August to take place at Karen Country Club, and it will climax with the East Africa Junior Open, from 12 – 14 August 2011 at Sadili Oval Sports Academy.

Players who have arrived include Henry Ayesiga (ITF 14 and Under Winner in April this year), Dennis Lutaaya number 2 in the Tennis Africa Cup. From Tanzania, top junior Yasin Shabani will lead his team that includes 16 year old Melissa Brown and Ibrahim Kessi. Burundi Tennis Federation is, once again, using the camp as an opportunity to sharpen the technical skills of players, and sent under 16 players:  Abdul Ishaka, Ashim Nitunga and Zuberi Moussa, who have joined Nairobi-based compatriots and top juniors Amadi Kagoma (quarterfinalist ITF 18 and Under in February this year and finalist in the Kenya Open mixed doubles), and Shebani Kabura. Players from Mombasa include Martin Wambua,  Binal Jayasinghe, Euan Nesbitt and David Nesbitt, while young talent from Victoria Tennis Ricky Omondi,  shall ably represent Kisumu.

The event was preceded by a 2-month Star Search, that took place around the East African region, beginning in Nairobi during the Virgin Atlantic Junior Camp in April, then followed by Mombasa, and running through Kisumu, Kampala, Bujumbura, Kigali, Arusha, before completing its journey back in Nairobi in June. Products of this camp include Wimbledon junior Hassan Ndayashimiye, Maurice Wamukowa, Rahab Mbugua, Sonia Mideva, Joab Odera, Aziza Butoyi and Terry Odera (all currently in USA).