My Love for Tennis

Nicholas with Coach Adongo

“My journey in tennis started when I first saw Coach Asha Adongo at our school picking new members to join her squad group. She used come in the evening pick us at school and head to the Kibera Tennis Court where we would do our tennis practice sessions. At first I was afraid as I didn’t know how to play tennis leave alone holding a racket but after realizing that most members didn’t know either gave me some sort of comfort though I vowed to learn as much as I can and become one of the best players. I always look forward to evenings, Saturdays and Holiday camps so that I could play tennis”, said Nicholas.

Nicholas with other squad members during training.

Nicholas Omondi is a 12 year old class 5 boy at Nazarene Primary school in Kibera he started playing tennis when he was in class 3 after the introduction of the Court of dreams program in their school and since then he has become a constant never missing tennis practice. “Nicholas is one of the most determined players I have, great at smashing and back hand. He is also disciplined and makes the team lively and active with his comical aspect. He also has a determined spirit losing a game to him is not an option and when he does he seriously cries and will make sure the next time he wins. Through Nicholas there are several other good players who have joined the team”, said coach Adongo

In a short interview with Nicholas he was able to inform us that tennis has so far become his favorite sport, his parent’s support him as his class work has improved so has his manners. Even though he wants to become a pilot when he grows up, he will still play tennis his favorite sport.

  

First Smashers Challenge Takes Off To A Great Start

The first Smashers Challenge Tournament of 2016 took place at its traditional home, Sadili Oval in Langata, Nairobi, with 18 juniors braving the cold and wet conditions to have what was a good beginning of the year’s tennis of the Tennis Africa Cup. Little Emmi Imani proved her talent by breaking through to the semi-finals in the mixed 12's, before losing to top ranked boy, Eddy Ochieng. Evans Otieno dominated the U16, beating all opposition to step onto the winners spot on the podium. Newcomer Alfred Bokea took second place after Ibrahim Mohammed failed to play his match against Alfonse Oduor, thereby losing critical points.

In the 12s: Eddy Ochieng, Emi Imani, Michel Otieno and Andrew Bokea emerged from the group stages to compete in the semi-finals, with Andrew Bokea routing Michael Otieno 4/0/4/0, before dominating over Ochieng 5/3, 4/2 to bag the winner’s points.

The Under 14s was a round robin with close run between Jeremy Kimani and Chevita Okenye, which Okenye eventually won in points.

The Smashers Challenge is a Level B tournament for top juniors in the Tennis Africa Cup (http://www.tennisafrica.net/) ranking and recognized by the Nairobi County Tennis Association. The Smashers Challenge Series, started by Tennis professional, Dr. Liz Odera over 17 years ago to build talent, has helped hone the skills of many juniors, who now live and play in about 14 countries around the world. This year, the tournament series also forms part of the qualification events towards the National Masters, which will take place during the Smashers Challenge up on the 6^th – 7^th August 2016, at the Karen Country Club. Winners who from the Masters will qualify for the World Finals of The CHAMPIONS BOWL (http://www.champ-bowl.com), a worldwide tournament circuit, to be held in Turkey later this year. 

RESULTS

U12
POOL A					SEMIS	FINALS
	1	2	3	4
EMI IMANI		1/4, 1/4	4/2, 5/3	4/2, 1/4, 7/3	E. OCHIENG
ANDREW BOKEA	4/1, 4/1		4/2, 5/3	4/1, 4/0		E. OCHIENG
VICTOR OTIENO	2/4, 3/5	2/4, 3/5		2/4, 1/4		4/1, 4,0
HENRY OTIENO	2/4, 4/1, 3/7	1/4, 0/4	4/2, 4/1		E. IMANI
							A. BOKEA
POOL B					M. OTIENO		5/3, 4/2
	1	2	3	4
AUSTINE KATIECH		4/1, 4/2	0/4, 0/4	4/0, 4/0		A. BOKEA
EDDY OCHIENG	1/4, 2/4		W/O	4/0, 4/0	A. BOKEA	4/0, 4/0
MICHEAL OTIENO	4/0, 4/0	W/O		4/0, 4/0
PETER KILONZI	0/4, 0/4	0/4, 0/4	0/4, 0/4

U14						POSITION
	1	2	3	4	5
JOSEPH BOKEA		1/4, 3/5	1/4, 2/4	**	2/4, 3/5	4
EVANS AMINGA	4/1, 5/3		4/0, 2/4, 5/7	**	4/1, 4/0	3
CHEVITA OKENYE	4/1, 4/2	0/4, 4/2, 7/5		**	1/4, 4/1, 7/4	1
JEREMY KIMANI	**	**	**		**	**
EDWARD ODONGO	4/2, 5/3	4/1, 4/0	4/1, 1/4, 4/7	**		2

U16
	1	2	3	4	5	Rank
ALFRED BOKEA		4/1, 4/1	4/2, 4/2	3/5, 2/4	1/4, 3/5	2
ALFONSE ODUOR	1/4, 1/4		0/4,2/4	NOT PLAYED	1/4, 2/4	5
GEORGE KEYA	2/4, 2/4	4/0, 4/2		1/4, 2/4	0/4, 0/4	4
IBRAHIM MOHAMMED	5/3, 4/2	NOT PLAYED	4/1, 4/2		2/4, 3/5	3
EVANS OTIENO	4/1, 5/3	4/1, 4/2	4/0, 4/0	4/2, 5/3		1