By Oscar Pilipili
Shebani Kabura is the winner of boys’ under-14 category in International Tennis Federation/Confederation of African Tennis tournament.
He grabbed the title from teammate Saidi Nkurunziza after he won the final match 6-1, 6-3 in the finals of the first leg of the competition at Sadili Oval Tennis Academy, Nairobi.
Shebani, who has been a student of Malezi School and trains at Sadili Oval for the last five years, also partnered with Saidi to reach an all-Burundi boys’ under-14 final, where they lost narrowly in a tie break to Omari Mohammed and Shabani Kassalo 4-1. 0-4 (9).
Saidi had to fight past Kenyan Sheil Kotecha 7-5, 2-6’ 7-5 in a closely contested quarter-final, and team mate Shabani Kassalo (Burundi) 1-6, 6-4, 6-3 in the semi-finals to qualify for the final berth.
Kabura eased past Egill Sirgudsson (Iceland) 6-1, 6-1 in the quarters, before meeting sixth seed Ernest Habiyambere (Rwanda and ITF Centre Burundi), playing a tough semi-final match, where he floundered after a quick first set, eventually rallying to win 6-3 0-6, 6-4.
Top places
Seychelles became the team to watch in the boys under-12 taking all top places.
New sensation and newcomer, 10 year old Laporte Damien (Seychelles) thundered his way past all opposition to lift the boys under-12 category.
Damien beat Geoffrey Ogega (Kenya) 6-0 6-4, and Emile Teja (Kenya) 7-5 6-3 to meet first seed Jonathan Mugisha (Burundi), beating him 6-4, 6-3 in the final.
Damien partnered with Sahun Adriamaro to give Seychelles the boys under-12 doubles gold medal when they beat Teja/Jonathan Mugisha 5-4 (5), 3-5 (3).
In the girls’ under-12 final, Sneha Kotecha beat Aisha Niyonkuru 4-6, 6-2, 6-2 to give Kenya the first gold medal.
More surprises
Sneha then partnered with Aisha to take the girls’ doubles 5-4 (1), 4-0 against Saada Nahimana and Bitungwa Mwamini.
The most unexpected development was when unseeded Annie Lord (Kenya) upset fourth seed Prudence Theuri (Kenya) 6-1, 6-4 and Natalia Mburu (Kenya) 6-0, 6-2 to reach the semis.
The girls under-14 singles had many more surprises, with seeds tumbling, including top seed Mariam Mujawimana (ITF Centre Burundi) who fell to third seed Amelie Boy (Mauritius) 3-6, 3-6 in the semi-finals.
Adetunji Rotimi (Congo), brought down second seed Chan Tam Neng Maelyn (Mauritius) 6-4, 7-5 in the second semi-finals, setting up an exciting finals that saw Amelie take the gold medal 4-6, 6-2, 6-4 for Mauritius.
Neng/Amelie also won the girls under-14 finals, beating Tonia Kubai/Cherryl Fuasso (Kenya) 4-1 4-5 (2) in the decider.
Kubai/Fuasso caused a major upset when they downed top seeds Mariam Mujawimana/Abigael Tate-Harte (ITF Centre) 4-2, 5-3.
The second tournament also runs at Sadili Oval and is expected to end on May 5.
A total of 114 participants from nine countries are represented at the event and include Kenya, Tanzania, Burundi, ITF East Africa Centre, Rwanda, Congo, Zimbabwe, Mauritius and Republic of South Africa.
Other entries who are also residents on Kenya include UK, Iceland and Ireland. Participants earn crucial CAT points and ranking.
