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

Evolve9 Building Tennis & Dreams At Sadili

Ronald Pothuizen, a director of kids tennis company, Evolve9, came to Kenya to run a tennis course for Tennis Tens coaches at Sadili Oval in 2010, and fell in love with the many children in our program, who attempted to play tennis on the side of a hill near Katwekera in Kibera with bats and old tennis balls. He committed immediately committed to building them four mini-courts at Sadili Oval, about 8 minutes away. The courts, when finished, would form a kids & fun centre, giving poor kids and their firends a chance to learn tennis, and learn about life too, by attending the community library nearby. The ground-breaking took place mid this year, and the excavation completed. This has been followed by filling with stone, machine compression, filling with murram and rolling with plenty of water. Then we have been ensuring that the surface is levelled and cared for as we await further fundraising through different ways to have the three final layers done, which will cost another 5,000 euros, and fencing/benches/nets/net posts, that will cost 1500 euros. Thank you to Evolve9 directors and special thanks to Ronald Pothuizen, who carried out a cross-country ski race to raise money to start the project, and continues to work hard talking to companies and friends to keep the fire alive.

If you wish to donate to this project, please do so through Globalgiving on http://globalgiving.org/projects/build-tennis-and-dreams-in-the-kibera-slums-kenya