23 Oct 2011 Kigotho, Kinyanjui Show Their Talent

Frank Kinyanjui

Frank Kinyanjui, showed signs of things to come when he beat Kevin Mwangi 2/4, 4/0/ (10-8) to reach the semi-finals of the boys U16 in his first tournament in 4 years. Frank, who was busy with school, has made a come-back to tennis and joined the Sadili Talent Training Academy. His team mate and one of Kenya's fastest developing juniors, Olivier Kigotho, showed that he was not going to be cowed, also reaching the semi-finals of the Boys Under 14 after beating Dennis Moses 1/4, 5/4 (6) 11-9 and Emile Teja 4/1, 4/1, before losing in a tie-break to Petty Andanda 1/4, 4/1 (10/4). In the boys U18, Second seed Jamin Luvembe easily beat Peter Ndungu 4/0, 4/1 to reach the semi-finals, where he met and lost to surprisingly unseeded team mate, Yasin Lila 2/4, 4/1 (10-8). Yasin went on to win the category, dispensing with Allan Atole 4/1, 4/0

Yasin Lila

22 October 2011 RVA Meet Sadili "C" Strike Team

Rift Valley Academy was once again, hosted at Sadili Oval Sports Academy on Saturday 22nd October, a fresh crisp morning, with the courts bsuy with eager boys and one girl (Kira) getting ready for both singles and doubles. This time round Sadili fielded their C team, which is composed of upcoming Under  11, 12 and 13 year old talented boys from the Kibera slums. The teams were well-matched, though Sadili had the edge, just barely taking a couple of matches more than RVA, while dominating the singles.

 Results were as follows:

Doubles:

Wycliffe/Ronex (Sadili) vs. Andrew/Jitton 2/4

 Byron/Victor (Sadili) vs. James Hamut (RVA) 4/2

Davis/Antony (Sadili) vs. Ryan/Andrew (RVA) 1/4

David/Sylvester (Sadili) vs. Mathew/Sky (RVA) 4/3

Wycliffe/Ronex (Sadili) vs. Luke/James (RVA) 4/3

Ronex/Antony (Sadili) vs. Mathew/Ryan (RVA) 4/2

Victor/Wycliffe (sadili) vs. Hamut/James (RVA) 4/0

Singles:

Ateka (Sadili) vs. Kira (RVA) 4/3

Ronex (Sadili ) vs. Luke (RVA) 4/2

David (Sadili) vs. Luke (RVA) 4/0

Sylvester (Sadili) vs. Kira (RVA) 4/2

Victor (Sadili) vs. Jihoon (RVA) 4/3

Byron (Sadili) vs. Kira (RVA) 4/2

Overal Wins: Sadili 11 RVA 2

Congratulations to both teams for the hard work and for staying positive and supportive all morning!

25th September 2011 Strathmore Invitational Basketball Tournament

Venue: Strathmore University Grounds

Teams: 1. Malezi 2. Strathmore University A 3. Usiu 4. Strathmore B 5. Multimedia University 6. Kenyatta University 7. Daystar University 8. Kemu  9. Cuea 10. Kenya Polytechnic University.

Format: Two Pools A&B

                -Top Two Teams Plays In The Semis

                -Winners Of The Semis Plys In The Finals.

Results                 1. Malezi    Vs   Kenya Poly

                   17/19-36               19/14-23

                  2.Malezi    Vs    Strathmore A

                       09/07-16               21/15-36

                  3.Usiu          Vs      Malezi

                     15/10-25                06/10-16

                  4.Dayster    Vs    Malezi

                        15/09-24              14/15-29

                 5.Malezi       Vs    Kemu

                    21/14-35                 09/10-19

Strathmore And Usiu Proeded To The Finals, As The Top Two From Our Pools.

17 September 2011 Malezi Win The Sprite 3 On 3

Venue: Nyayo Stadium

Teams: 1.NIS 2.Malezi.3.Aquinas 4.Laiser B  5. Lenana A 6. Laiser A 7. Lenana B 8. Moi Forces Academy

Format: Two Pools A&B. Top Two Teams, Plays In The Semis, Winners Of Semi Plays In The Finals

Results:1. Malezi -12  Aquinas -06

             2. Laiser  B-07  Malezi  -13

             3. Lenana-A-05 Malezi-17

   Semi: Malezi-15 Nis   07

   Finals: Malezi -11  Aquinas-05

Awards: A Set Of Uniform And 3 Sprite Balls 

16 Oct 2011 Malezi and Loreto Top In Schools Event

Amadi Kagoma, Yasin Lila Shabani, Jamin Luvembe and Dennis Lutaaya overcame Malezi School “B” of Henry Ayesige, Frank Kinyanjui, Shabani Kabura and Dennis Gakuru grabbing the boys’ category while girls’ honours went to Loreto Valley Road School ‘A’ Team comprising Paige Mbugua, Nicole Wandera and Haiyat Shariff.

Dennis Lutaaya

The winning boys teams paraded experienced players who are some of the best in the region.

They include Kagoma, Ayesige, Kabura and Mbugua who are all common figures in regional tennis tournaments. Malezi School, who is trained by the top regional tennis centre, Sadili Oval Sports Academy in Nairobi, have been national KSSA champions for the last 11 years, defending it again in August 2011.

Malezi ‘A’ dominated the group stage, winning all their matches to top their pool with maximum eight points. They beat Oshwal ‘B’, Narok and Lenana with uniform 6-0 scored in first singles round and repeated the same in round two, beating the same opponents with yet another 3-0 point scores. Malezi “B’ lost only one point to top their group and make the finals. Narok Secomdary were third.

The KLTA said they are making efforts to ensure that the championships run annually and involve more schools across the country as a way to spread the sport nationally.

The KLTA officer Neil Mwombe said: "This is the only way to ensure that tennis stands to grow and spread." Participants lauded both the KLTA and Safaricom for organising the event, saying the tournament was important as it comes at a time when there is not much happening in the tennis calendar.

2 OCTOBER 2011: SMASHERS CHALLENGE NO.4

Sneha Kotecha

The 4^th Smashers Tennis Challenge ended today at Sadili Oval Sports Academy, with newcomer, 9 year old Saada Naeemah (Burundi) reaching the finals in the girls under 12, where she finally lost to Sneha Kotecha (Kenya) 1/6 . In the boys U12, Antony Owita (Kenya) lost to Davis Matanda (Kenya) 4/6 to take second place, Lusweti Kiai (Kenya) was third.

In the boys Under 16, Shabani Kabura (Burundi) beat Shiel Kotecha (Kenya) 5/6,7/6,10/4, while Henry Ayesiga (Uganda) beat John Lutaya (Uganda) in the semis  6/1,6/7,10/4 to set an exciting finals that saw Ayesiga triumph over Kabura 1/6,6/3,10/8. In the boys Under 14, Ricky  Omondi (Kenya) beat Ronex Otieno (Kenya) 6/7,6/2,10/5 in yet another tight match that had spectators glued to their seats. Olivier Kigotho was third. The boys Under 18 saw left-hander Jamin Luvembe (Kenya) play a close match against Richard Ooko (Kenya), winning 6/2,7/6,(3).  In the girls Under 16, Sneha Kotecha surprised Melissa Brown (Tanzania), 6/4, 6/2 before losing to Lorna Mbwejje (Kenya) 2/6,2/6 to take second place.

Other results were as follows:

BU-12

Charles Ochieng v/s Davis Matanda 1/6

Charles Ochieng v/s  Antony Owita  1/6

Ronald Omondi v/s  Davis Matanda  1/6

Ronald Omondi  v/s Lusueti Kiai   0/6

Antony Owita  v/s Davis Matanda 4/6

Antony Owita  v/s Lusueti Kiai  3/6

GU-12

Carmine Mindi v/s Sneha Kotecha 6/0

Elizabeth Owuor v/s Carmine Mindi 3/6

BU-14

Ricky Omondi v/s David Mukhwana 6/3,6/4

GU-16

Sneha Kotecha v/s Melisa Brown 6/4, 6/2

Sneha Kotecha v/s Lorna Mbwejje 2/6,2/6

BU-16

Wycliffe Okenye v/s Frank Kinyanjui 3/6,6/4,10/6

Henry Ayesiga v/s Frank Kinyanjui 6/1,6/1

Henry Ayesiga v/s Dennis Gakuro 6/0,6/0

Sheil Kotecha v/s Robert Kasombo 6/3,6/1

Sheil Kotecha v/s John Lutaya 6/6,3/7,6/6,4/7

BU-18

Jamin Luvembe v/s Richard Ooko 6/2,7/6,(3)

                                

                                                SEMIS

BU-16

Shabani Kabura beat Shiel Kotecha 5/6,7/6,10/4

Henry Ayesiga beat John Lutaya 6/1,6/7,10/4

BU-14

Ricky Omondi beat  Olivier Kigotho 8/10,6/3,10/5

Ronex Otieno  W/O Josephat Garo

                                         FINALS

GU-12

Sneha Kotecha beat Sada Naeemah 6/1

              

GU14/16  RoundRobin

Lorna Bweje beat  Matseka Kithinji 6/1,6/1

Lorna Bweje beat Sada Naeemah 6/1,6/1

Sneha Kotecha beat Matseka Kithinji 6/3,6/1

Lorna Bweje beat Melisa Brown 6/1,6/3

Melisa Brown beat Matseka Kithinji 6/2,7/5

                                     FINALS

BU-14

Ricky  Omondi beat Ronex Otieno 6/7,6/2,10/5

BU-16

Henry Ayesiga beat Shabani Kabura 1/6,6/3,10/8

                                          

                                              WINNERS

GU-12                                                             BU-12

1.Sneha Kotecha                                  1.Davis Matanda

2.Sada Naeemah                                   2.Antony Owita

3.                                                           3.Lusweti Kiai

BU-14

1.Ricky Omondi

2.Ronex  Otieno                                                                   

3.Olivier Kigotho

 GU-16                                                          BU-16

1.Lorna Bweje                                             1.Henry Ayesiga

2.Sneha Kotecha                                          2.Shabani Kabura

3.Melisa Brown                                            3.Wycliffe Okenye 

BU-18

1.Jamin Luvembe

2.Richard Ooko

3.Joseph Ooko   

14 Sep 2011 NBA Africa partners with KBF/Malezi/Sadili To Offer First Coach Workshop

Court time: Coach Wright Elaborates On A Point

The Sadili Oval Sports Academy on 14^th September 2011 hosted a world – class basketball clinic in conjunction with Kenya Basketball Federation, NBA Africa, Malezi College (Department of Sports, Recreation and Physical Education) and the famous basketball brand- Sprite.

Sadili boasts of having been the development platform for some of East Africa's basketball players who now play in the NBA and in the NCAA, honed their skills. The Malezi College also stands tall in being one of the premier institutions offering sports coaching and sports management courses in all sports at an affordable rate to coaches nationwide. Kenya Basketball federation, the nation’s basketball managing body is credited for having brought competitive basketball back into Kenya and as a result turned the sport into semi- professional. KBF’s resilience and hard work has attracted the corporate world into the game with  teams in within the major leagues.

Manyo chats with Nellie of Brookhouse School

The clinic at Sadili was run by re-knowned NBA Coach Wright and his South African-based NBA Africa counterpart John Manyo-Plange, and attracted a total of 48 coaches and referees. With 38 of the coaches being male and the other 10 being women, the facilitating coaches lauded the KBF and Sadili for having brought in women in a male dominated sport. Among the key skills taught by Coach Wright were offensive performance, defensive performance, player and coach attitude. Perhaps to note the main ingredient of their teachings was work ethic. In this segment of the clinic delivered by Coach Wright, coaches were exposed to a module that developed their mindset and also worked on their players’ mindset towards the game. ‘The main aim is winning, a player who is not interested in winning is as good as the bench’- Coach Wright. He went ahead to explain the reason for proper organizing of training sessions, prevention of injury and player conditioning within his module. In concluding their presentations both Toby Wright and Manyo-Plange expressed optimism in the local coaches being able to nurture more youngsters with the learn the skills and as a result provide the much needed new crop of players for the international basketball scene. They also expressed their interest in exploring ways to work with Sadili Oval and Malezi College, in the near future, as partners in developing basketball in Kenya. They were impressed by the commitment to sport, player, and facility development in 21 years.

Hot weather, long hours, but no-one is complaining!

Sprite has been in the Kenyan Hoops circles since 2003, creating basketball links between Kenya and the outside world and also offering an avenue for graffiti artists and Kenyan Hip- hop artists to showcase their skills. It is in August 2009 that the Sprite Slam series was officially launched in Kenya and ever since, players and coaches alike have been made to realize that basketball should be approached from a more sophisticated angle. The best of shows was put on display at the University of Nairobi courts on 16^th August 2011.  Despite the rain coming down and soaking the courts, the top 40 players as selected by KBF worked extensively to showcase their 3 on 3 skills in front of a charged spectator presence.

Happy Faces Of Enlightened Coaches: "We Want More" they all say...a challenge to the organisers!

18 Sep 2011 Celebrated NBA Coach Joby Wright Visits Sadili

Celebrated NBA Coach Joby Wright was at Sadili Oval Sports Academy today on his second training session for select players of Malezi School and Sadili Talent Training Academy. Coach Wright, who has been in the country on a coaching mission under an NBA Spriteball camp and tournament at Nyayo Stadium from Thursday, and in which Malezi won the Schools category over the competition weekend, said that he decided to take time to work with the boys because he had noted their committment to basketball and school, and that he hoped to follow their progress for the next few years. Players who were selected for special mentoring included Zack Okong'o, Lino Manyiel, John Madol and Emmanuel Atega. 

Coach Wright is best known as Head Coach/Director of Competitive Play 2000-2001 for the famous Harlem Globetrotters, when they won vs. Metro State University-NCAA Division II National Champion and Purdue University-3 Time Big Ten Champion (in the 90's). 

Joby Wright with Lino Manyiel (S.Sudan) and Zack Okong'o (Kenya)

Amongst other top jobs coaching at NCAA Division I level for many years, are Head Coach at University of Wyoming Cowboys, and Assistant Coach at Indiana University (where he worked under famous Coach Bob Knight). Coach Wright was Head Basketball Coach, Miami University, Oxford Ohio for 3-years, where he posted an excellent overall Record at Miami: 61-29. He took the Miami Valley Championship, beating Xavier, Cincinnati, and Dayton (3-0) for the first time in 25 years,  was third placed, Mid-American Conference in 1990-91 after making an NCAA First Round Appearance 1990-91. They then took first place in Mid-American Conference, Conference Co-Champs, NIT Final 8, 1992-93, beating Ohio State- First for the time in 93 years, first round NIT at OSU, 1992-93. He was voted mid-American Conference Coach of the Year 1992-93 1991-92 with a record: 23-8, Coach Joby Wright holds a Bachelor of Science in Physical Education, a Masters of Science, Recreation and Administration and Master of Science in Athletic Counselling/Recreational Sports Programming at Indiana University.

He is currently on contract with the NBA Africa to develop basketball in the Royal Bofakeng Province in South Africa. On this visit, he was accompanied by John Manyo-Plange of NBA Africa

10 Sep 2011: No Surprises At 8 Series Event

Sascha Taylor goes for a win

The 6^th edition of the 8-Series tennis tournament (the level D tourney for beginner and intermediate level players) took place at Sadili Oval this weekend, with a strong showing from 35 juniors from around the city. In the Under 8 Girls, Lourdel Adera beat Faith Mueni and Belinda Awino 11/4 and 11/4 respectively, to take the winners prize. In the Girls U14, Sasha Taylor overcame initial nervousness which saw her lose 2/4 to Tottie Ball, but acquiring enough points from Carmine Muinde 4/1 and Natasha Tsimininsky 4/0 to lift the winner’s prize. Tottie Ball took second place after just dropping 1 point aggregate. Mary Monari lifted Pool B, after winning 4/1 and 4/0 against Elizabeth Adhiambo and Mary Appalyne, respectively.

Nigel Odhiambo won the Boys Under 10, beating Clyde Adera 11/7 in the finals. Cylde had to go past Hilary Atsango 11/9 to reach the finals. The Boys Under 12 was a tough match, which saw Billy Douglas fight it out with David Mukhwana in the finals, eventually succumbing ¾ to runner up position. The Boys Under 14, Ronex Otieno beat Sylvester Juma 4/1 lift the trophy, while Amon Muinde had to battle it out with Robert Kasomombo to win 4/2, 4/0. Final results were as follows:

Girls Under 8

Winner – Lourdel Adera

Runner-up: Faith Mueni

Boys Under 10

Winner: Nigel Odhiambo

Runner-up: Clyde Adera

2^nd runner-up: Hilary Atsango

Girl Under 12 Group 1

Sasha Taylor

Runner-up: Tottie Ball

Girls Under 12 Group 2

Winner: Mary Monari

Runner-up: Elizabeth Adhiambo

Boys Under 12

Winner: David Mukhwana

Runner-up: Billy Douglas

Boys Under 14

Winner: Ronex Otieno

Runner-up: Sylvester Juma

Boys Over 14:

Winner: Amon Muinde

Runner-up: Robert Kasombo

                                    

13 Aug 2011 Malezi School Are National Tennis Champions 2011

Richard Ooko in perfect balance

Captain Amadi Kagoma led Malezi School and Nairobi Province to successfully defend their Boys and Girls titles at the Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association Games, which ended on the 13th August 2011. Amadi overcame the biggest opposition, pushing Tony Orwa of Central Province to second place. Malezi's Yasin Lila Shabani was third. In the boys doubles, Jamin Luvembe and Richard Ooko proved themselves worthy for the second year running, lifting the title with ease. Says Jamin, "We have been working hard all year, we just needed to keep doing the same".

At the nationals in Kisumu last year, rookies Lorna Bhwejje and Melissa Brown had difficulty keeping it together, and lost the doubles to Central Province at the semis, and it fell to Sakina Nshimirimana and Teresa Odera to work to win the championship trophy. This year, the more determined and confident pair, Lorna and Melissa took every match without dropping a single set, to keep the trophy at Malezi and earn valuable points for Nairobi Province for yet another year.

Captain Amadi's comment was "The standard of tennis has improved a lot, especially amongst the boys. But we have also improved, putting in a lot of effort, and it has paid. Being part of Sadili Talent Training Academy is also a big boost for us, giving us the confidence we need to play at any level. I am very proud to be part of Malezi School, and our team spirit will definitely carry us to perform well again next year". Amadi takes over captaincy from Terry Odera (2010), and will be leading the team into 2012 season. Teresa is a freshman playing varsity tennis in Iowa, USA.

Malezi School have been national champions for 9 years running and now taking their 10th, with successful teams ensuring that they keep winning the championships for Nairobi Province and their school.