Musera lands scholarship at ITF Centre in Pretoria

By Oscar Pilipili

Damaris Musera, 14, has landed a talent scholarship at the International Tennis Federation High Performance Training Centre in Pretoria, South Africa.

Musera, who is one of the most promising tennis players in Eastern Africa, will train and study at the Centre for one year.

Musera’s coach Joe Karani said the scholarship is renewable up to a period of four years, depending on the player’s performance at the Centre.

"I have handled Musera since she was young and I understand her as a disciplined girl on and off the court and I expect her to maintain the same in South Africa,"said Karani.

Karani said the player would leave for South Africa immediately after participating in African Junior Championship (AJC) Qualifiers starting in Bujumbura, Burundi today.

She is among eight Kenyan players who would be contesting for tickets to the April’s AJC in Cairo, Egypt.

The junior has been an important player in Loreto Convent Valley Road School tennis team and has represented Kenya in several international events.

She said: "I feel good to be travelling to South Africa and I promise to work hard to maintain the scholarship." Musera feels the offer would help her improve her game and academics as well.

harmonised schedule

"It is easier to balance academics and tennis at the Centre because unlike here in Kenya they have a well harmonised schedule," said Musera.

"My tennis will improve a lot because there are more training hours, qualified coaches and class tournaments that involves players from across the world," said Musera who sat for Kenya Certificate of Primary Education examinations at Loreto last year.

Musera’s dream is to represent Kenya in major international tournaments but her immediate goal is to play at the Cairo’s AJC tournament.

"My immediate goal is to play well at the AJC qualifiers in Burundi and make the East Africa Zonal team to Egypt,"said Musera who played at the high profile junior competition in Nigeria last year.

"It is important to qualify for the AJC because the achievement will give me more confidence as I go to South Africa," Musera told FeverPitch during the Coca Cola-sponsored Jim Davies Junior Championship in Nairobi Sunday.