Biggest East Africa junior tennis camp opens at Sadili Oval Sports Centre

By Oscar Pilipili

Sadili Oval Sports Centre busts into life with top junior players converging there for this year’s East Africa Safari Junior Camp.

Players expected include Uganda’s rising star, David Oringa, tipped to become as strong as 2010 Kenya Open winner Duncan Mugabe.

He is part of a team of four players which includes Henry Ayesiga (International Tennis Federation (ITF) 14 and under winner in April) and Dennis Lutaaya.

Tanzania, top junior Yasin Shabani, who studies at Malezi School, leads his team that includes 16-year-old Melissa Brown and Ibrahim Kessi.

Burundi Tennis Federation is, once again, using the camp to sharpen the technical skills of players, and will be sending under-16 players namely: Abdul Ishaka, Ashim Nitunga and Juma Nakizumana, who will join Nairobi-based compatriots and top juniors Amadi Kagoma.

Kagoma reached quarter-finals in ITF 18 and under last February and was finalist in this year’s Kenya Open mixed doubles), and Shebani Kabura.

Players from Mombasa include Martin Wambua, Binal Jayasinghe, Ali Jawad, Hytham Buran, Vivek Majithia, Euan Nesbitt and David Nesbitt, while young talent from Victoria Tennis Ricky Omondi shall ably represent Kisumu.

The event was preceded by a two-month Star Search, that took place around the East African region, beginning in Nairobi during the Virgin Atlantic Junior Camp in April, then followed by Mombasa, and running through Kisumu, Kampala, Bujumbura, Kigali, Arusha, before completing its journey back in Nairobi in June.

Sadili Director Liz Odera said: "The camp would definitely offer Malezi School team opportunity to train for forthcoming national secondary schools games in Nairobi."

Retaining title

Malezi team players include Kagoma who is expected to lead the school in retaining the national title they have won for the last eight years.

Products of this camp include Wimbledon junior Hassan Ndayashimiye, Maurice Wamukowa, Rahab Mbugua, Sonia Mideva, Joab Odera, Aziza Butoyi and Terry Odera (all currently in USA).

East Africa Safari Junior Tennis Camp is brainchild of International Tennis Professionals and managed by Sadili Oval Sports Academy since its inception 12 years ago.

This camp remains the most prestigious event in the tennis calendar in the region, and continues to attract large numbers of talented junior players between 6 and 18 years, from USA, Africa and Europe, to train and also compete in the East African Junior Tennis Open that marks the end of each camp, annually.

Previous coaches who have attended the camp include Coach Bill Murray (former coach of Venus and Serena Williams), and Paul Holbach, Coach of Lindsay Davenport.

The camp is sponsored by Professional Tennis Registry, Sadili Oval, Tamarind, Global Sports Alliance and Sarova Hotels.