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).

NAIROBI COUNTY TENNIS ASSOCIATION IS LAUNCHED

Nairobi tennis enthusiasts now finally have a chance to work together and grow the game of tennis, with the launching of the Nairobi County Tennis Association, today, at Sadili Oval Sports Academy, Langata.

Speaking on behalf of the Cabinet Secretary of Sports, Dr. Hassan Wario, the County Director of Sports, Ms. Caroline Mungai, reiterated the Ministry’s commitment to working with the county in developing tennis as an important sport in the newly devolved Kenya. Also present was George Kola, of the Langata Constituency Office, who said, on behalf of the MP of Langata, Mr. Joash Olum, was already working to improve and increase the facilities available for tennis, and would actively encourage other constituencies to do the same, in order to give the youth a positive lifestyle choice.

Speaking for The Kenya Lawn Tennis Association, its Charman, Mrs. Paurvi Rawal, congratulated the county for being the first to register fully and that the KLTA would support the initiative fully. She went ahead and registered as a member. The President of Nairobi County Tennis Association, Dr. Liz Odera, announced that they have now opened membership to individuals, schools, academies, clubs and tennis-playing organizations. She stated that both Kenyans and non-Kenyans were free to join the association.

The association was formed to promote the game of tennis in every way and foster friendly relations among officials, players and members of the Association and other organizations by encouraging tennis competitions and community tennis in Nairobi. The association intends to promote the education of coaches, umpires, referees, managers and other officials of the game of tennis, and eradicate discrimination and promote equality and diversity in tennis.

The association has location and divisional representations that include Central, Dagoretti, Embakasi, Kasarani, Kibera, Makadara, Pumwani and Westlands. The association today launched a membership drive in Kibera, and shall be moving through all the other divisional branches to meet tennis enthusiasts and encourage them to take up the mantle and open branch offices in their areas. Locational representation will be very critical to the growth of the game, and apart from areas that are already known to offer tennis and from which representation exists such as Parklands, Karen and Lavington, new areas in which tennis is being promoted for the first time include Kwangware, Kahawa, Maringo, Kasarani, Eastleigh, Pumwani, Kariobangi North, Umoja, Dandora and Highridge.

Association Branches	Locations covered
Central	Huruma · Kariokor · Mathare · Ngara · Starehe
Dagoretti	Kawangware · Kenyatta/Golf Club · Mutuini · Riruta · Uthiru/Ruthmitu ·Waithaka
Embakasi	Dandora · Embakasi · Kariobangi South · Kayole · Mukuru kwa Njenga · Njiru ·Ruai · Umoja
Kasarani	Githurai · Kahawa · Kariobangi North · Kasarani · Korogocho · Roysambu ·Ruaraka
Kibera	Karen · Kibera · Laini Saba · Langata · Mugumoini · Nairobi West ·Sera Ngombe
Makadara	Makadara · Makongeni · Maringo · Mukuru Nyayo · Viwandani
Pumwani	Bahati · Eastleigh North · Eastleigh South · Kamukunji · Pumwani
Westlands	Highridge · Kangemi · Kilimani · Kitisuru · Lavington · Parklands

Membership is open to players, clubs, schools and tennis-playing organizations.

President – Dr. Elizabeth Odera, Director, representative, Karen

Vice-President – Ms. Mary Muriuki, representative, Makadara

Secretary – Mr. Fais Ochieng Magak, representative, Kibera

Treasurer – Mr. Francis Okong’o, representative, Langata

Additional posts are to be filled soon, and include representation committees for Representative from Women in Tennis, Development, Veteran, Juniors, Coaches Association, Clubs Tennis, Schools Tennis, Wheel Chair Tennis, Umpires Association and Historically Disadvantaged Communities. Any person interested in joining the association or partnering with them in any way to promote tennis in the County, may write to nairobicountytennis@gmail.com