Sadili Oval players dominate Real Insurance Junior Tennis Championships

By Oscar Pilipili

Sadili Oval Sports Academy players proved they are the team to beat at the just concluded Real Insurance Kenya Open at Nairobi Club, when they dominated the junior tournament and made inroads into the senior ranks.

Sadili placed six players in the finals and won three titles. The academy provided eight semi-finalists and seven quarter-finalists during the event

The 17-year-old Amadi Kagoma became the youngest player to reach the quarterfinals of the men’s singles, knocking out third seed Habiyambere Diadonne Rwanda 7-6 (4), 6-3 in the first round.

Kagoma also reached the semi-finals of the men’s doubles with teammate Yasin Shabani, losing to Habyambere/Duncan Mugabe 6-1, 5-7, 10-6 in a closely contested match.

Kagoma, who lifted the boys’ under-18 title, over teammate Jamin Luvembe.

Lifted title

Nine-year-old sensation, Saada Nahimana lifted the girls’ Onder-12, winning 6-0 6-0 against Prudence Theuri in the final. Nahimana only lost one game in the whole tournament, while Shebani Kabura cruised over Martin Luveka 6-1 6-0 in the boys’ Onder-16 final.

Back to the tennis scene was Chizi Mutsumi, who is now full time at the academy.

Mutsumi reached the girls singles finals, losing to Sofiya Gulam 6-2, 3-6, 2-6.

Chizi said: "I have only been playing for two months and I am quite pleased with my results. I know that I can perform even better".

Her teammate, Lorna Bwejje took third place in the girls’ Onder-18 behind winner Gloria Rotich and runner-up Alvas Wahome.

Amadi and Shebani have already jetted out to represent East and Central Africa region at the age-group Africa Junior Championships in South Africa and Egypt.

Amadi will be joining teammate and Sadili graduate, Hassan Ndayashimiye to try and win the boys under-18.

Performed well

Other juniors who performed well in this team included Olivier Kigotho (boys’ Under-14 quaters), Henry Ayesiga (boys’ Under-16 semis), Ronex Otieno (boys’ Under-14 semis) and Josephat Garo (boys Under-14 quarters) and Nigel Odhiambo (boys’ Under-10 semi-finals).

The Real Insurance Kenya Open attracted 135 juniors from around the region, who played in the Under 10 to the Under 18 categories.

Caroline Oduor won the ladies singles category beating Evelyn Otula 6-0, 6-2 in the final while the boys’ honours went to Zambian Edgar Kazembe who defeated 6-2, 3-6, 7-6(3) to be crowned 2012 Kenya Open winners.

Real Insurance and Kenya Lawn Tennis Association entered into a partnership that will saw the title sponsors agree to fund the event for three years, from 2011-13.

This year’s event was sponsored to the tune of Sh1.5 million with Sh800,000 being total prize money.

The KLTA used the opportunity to successfully introduce wheelchair category to the Championships.