Malezi Hold Firm At Nationals As They Head to Tennis Semis

Jamin Luvembe

Henry Ayesiga (Boys Player 1), Chizi Mutsumi /Melissa Brown (girls doubles), JaminLuvembe/John Lutaaya (boys doubles) continue to brave the rain, as they march to the semi-fianls at this year's Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association (KSSSA), Term 2 National Ball Games held in Embu. In the boys singles, Malezi remains unbeaten as Henry does not drop a single game, trouncing Nzoia 4-0, Nakuru 4-0 and Lake Region 4-0.

The Girls Doubles Team Of Chizi/Melissa have played and won two matches, winning against Central 4-2, and Nakuru 4-1.

Jamin/John have not disappointed the fans, as they mauled Lake Region  4-0, Nzoia 4-0 and  Eastern 4-1 in their run to the semi-finals, which will be played tomorrow.

Kenyan in Finals of Smashers Challenge

Amon Muinde

Kenyan and Kibera Junior, Amon Muinde, today, for the first time in three years, made the finals of the Smashers Challenge Cup in the Under 16s category, showing hope that the country can equal others in talent. Amon who beat top African junior, Henry Ayesiga (Uganda) 4/6,6/1[5-10] in the group stages, struggled through the first set, to lose 6/0, before rallying to fight back, losing in a close 5/7 in the second and final set.  Henry, in his element today, had earlier won a tough match against top Kenyan junior, Olivier Kigotho 6/2 6/4 in the quarterfinals, then stopped upcoming talent Sada Nahimana 6/1 6/0 in the semi-finals.

Henry Ayesiga

In the boys 14s finals, Anthony Owiti slipped past Davis Matanda (Kenya), 7/6(3) 6/3 in a close encounter that lasted a little over 2 hours.

The Smashers Challenge Tournament is part of a series of challenges for junior players of intermediate to advanced level, and is recognized by the Tennis Africa Cup.

RESULTS

GSU-12

Alice Ayoma v/s Belinda Awino 7/6(5),6/3

Alice Ayoma v/s Elizabeth Sheila 6/1,6/2

Belinda Awino v/s Elizabeth Sheila 6/0,6/0

Winner: Alice Ayoma

Runner-up: Belinda Awino

2^nd R-up:Elizabeth Sheila

BSU-14

 Pool A

Davis Matanda v/s Charles Ochieng 6/0,6/1

Davis Matanda v/s Peter Kyama 6/0,6/0

Charles Ochieng v/s Peter Kyama 6/4,6/3

1^ST Davis Matanda

2^nd Charles Ochieng

Pool B

Antony Owita v/s Nigel Odhiambo 7/6(2),6/3

Antony Owita v/s Ian Okungu 6/0,6/0

Nigel Odhiambo v/s Ian Okungu 6/0,6/0

1^st Antony Owita                                                                     

2^nd Nigel Odhiambo

Smashers Challenge No.2 (LEVEL B)
BS 14
Tennis Tournament Planner - www.tournamentsoftware.com
	Semifinals	Final	Winner
1	Matanda Davis
		Matanda Davis
2	Odhiambo Nigel	6-1 6-3
			Owiti Antony 7-6(3) 6-3
3	Ochieng Charles
		Owiti Antony
4	Owiti Antony	6-4 6-2

BSU-16

Pool A

Henry Ayesiga v/s Amon Muinde 4/6,6/1[5-10]

Henry Ayesiga v/s  Josphat Garo 0/1 Ret. Won

Henry Ayesiga v/s   Sylvester Juma 4/6,6/4[10-7]

Amon Muinde v/s Josphat Garo 6/2,6/2

Amon Muinde v/s Sylvester Juma 6/0,6/2

Josphat Garo v/s Sylvester Juma 7/5,5/7[10-5]

1^st Amon Muinde

2^nd Henry Ayesiga

Pool B

John Lutaaya v/s Robert Kasombo 6/4,0/6[10-5]

John Lutaaya v/s Sada Nahimana 6/7(5),1/6

John Lutaaya v/s David Mukhwana 6/2,6/2

Robert Kasombo v/s Sada Nahimana 1/6,6/2[10-4]

Robert Kasombo v/s David Mukhwana 6/1,6/1

Sada Nahimana v/s David Mukwana 6/2,6/3

1^st Sada Nahimana

2^nd Robert Kasombo

Pool C

Shebani Kabura v/s Olivier Kigotho 1/0 Ret. Lost

Shebani Kabura v/s Ronex Otieno Not Played Lost

Shebani Kabura v/s Wycliffe Okenye 6/4,6/3

Olivier Kigotho v/s Ronex Otieno 6/7(4)6/3[10-7]

Olivier Kigotho v/s Wycliffe Okenye 6/3,6/3

Ronex Otieno v/s Wycliffe Okenye 4/6,1/6

1^st Olivier Kigotho

2^nd Wycliffe Okenye

Smashers Challenge No.2 (LEVEL B)
BS 16
Tennis Tournament Planner - www.tournamentsoftware.com
	Quarterfinals	Semifinals	Final	Winner
1	Muinde Amon
		Muinde Amon
2	Otieno Ronex	6-1 6-0
			Muinde Amon
3	Kasombo Robert		7-5 6-4
		Kasombo Robert
4	Okenye Wycliff	6-3 6-0
				Ayesiga Henry
5	Kigotho Olivier			6-0 7-5
		Ayesiga Henry
6	Ayesiga Henry	6-2 6-4
			Ayesiga Henry
7	Juma Sylvester		6-1 6-0
		Nahimana Saada
8	Nahimana Saada	6-0 6-4

Sadili's Jamin Luvembe Makes A First to Davis Cup From Kibera

Jamin Luvembe becomes the first tennis player from Kibera, Africa's largest slum, to play Davis Cup when he joins the Kenya team in Tunisia on the 1st of July 2012. 

Jamin was called in at the last minute to play trials at Nairobi Club, started out as the underdog, but rallied to win all his group-stage matches, qualifying for the semifinals as a firm candidate, and ending up as the runnerup, and 4th player for the team after Ibrahim Kibet. Other other two positions were not contested for, as KLTA had already selected  Faiz and Ishmael Changawa of Mombasa. Ishmael is currently the best ranked junior and has posted impressive results in ITF tournaments. Jamin, who is a student at Malezi School, started playing tennis at 8 years, when his brother, Francis Isiaho, introduced him to Sadili Oval Sports Academy. His sponsor and coach, Dr. Liz Odera says "this is Jamin's dream starting to come true. He has proved that committment and hard work pays. He still has a lot to do to become the player we hope to see, but this is a great step ib gaining experience, and we are very proud of him". Jamin has been put on standby, as funds are awaited for from the government, according to KLTA, so Kenyans may have to wait a little longer if he doesn't travel. Kenya will be play against some great teams, including Ghana, Nigeria, Tunisia, Benin, Zimbabwe, and Cote d'Ivoire. Kenya has barely managed to stay in Group 3 and it is hoped that, by exposing juniors like Ishmael and Jamin, the experience will pay off in a few years.