SMASHERS CHALLENGE CUP CLOSES ON A HIGH NOTE

The final round of the Smashers Challenge Series 2012 ended to today at Sadili Oval Sports Academy, with Henry Ayesiga (Uganda) causing major upsets to become champion in both the Boys U16 and U18 categories. In the Boys U16, Henry Ayesiga topped Pool A after beating Wycliffe Okenye and Amon Muinde 6/1, 62 and 6/2,6/3, respectively. In the semi-finals, he met Shebani Kabura (Burundu), who had just routed out Olivier Kigotho (Kenya) 6/1 6/1, to win 7/6(6) 6/2. In the finals, he trounced John Lutaaya (Uganda) 6/3 6/1.  Josephat Garo (Kenya) took the U14s , beating Ronex Otieno (Kenya) 6/1 6/0.

Lornah Bhwenje lifted the Girls U18 after close matches against Chizi Mutsumi 6/4 7/6(7) and Melisa Brown 7/6(6 )7/5

The Smashers Challenge is a series of 5 tournaments at Level B for intermediate and advanced juniors players and is recognized and ranked by Tennis Africa Cup.

GSU-12

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

Belinda Awino v/s Sophie Mary 6/1,6/2

Elizabeth Sheila v/s Sophie Mary 3/6,0/6

Winner: Belinda Awino

Runner-up:Sophie Mary

BSU-12

Pool A

Davis Matanda v/s Charles Ochieng 6/1,6/4

Davis Matanda v/s Elizabeth Aluoch 6/2,7/5

Charles Ochieng v/s Elizabeth Aluoch 6/4,6/4

1^st Davis Matanda

2^nd Charles Ochieng

Pool B

Antony Owita v/s Nigel Odhiambo 7/5,4/6,10/6

Antony Owita v/s Ronald Omondi 6/3,6/2

Nigel Odhiambo v/s Ronald Omondi 6/0,6/2

1^st Antony Owita

2^nd Nigel Odhiambo

SEMI FINALS

Davis Matanda v/s Nigel Odhiambo 7/5,6/1

Charles Ochieng v/s Antony Owita 4/6,2/6

1^st Davis Matanda

2^nd Antony Owita

FINALS

Semifinals	Final	Winner
Matanda Davis
	Matanda Davis
Odhiambo Nigel	7-5 6-1
		Matanda Davis
Ochieng Charles		6-0 6-1
	Owita Antony
Owita Antony	6-4 6-2

BSU-14

Pool A

Josephat Garo v/s Davis Matanda 6/3,6/2

Josephat Garo v/s David Mukhwana 6/1,6/2

Davis Matanda v/s David Mukhwana 4/6,5/7

1^st Josephat Garo

2^nd David Mukhwana

Pool B

Saada Nahimana v/s Ronex Otieno 5/7,6/1,8/10

Saada Nahimana v/s Antony Owita 0/6,0/6

Saada Nahimana v/s Byron Omondi 6/0,6/1

Ronex Otieno v/s Antony Owita 6/4,6/0

Ronex Otieno v/s Byron Omondi 6/0,6/3

Antony Owita v/s Byron Omondi 4/6,6/2,8/10

1^st Ronex Otieno

2^nd Antony Owita

Pool C

Wycliffe Okenye v/s Olivier Kigotho 4/6,2/6

Wycliffe Okenye v/s Sylvester Juma 6/0,6/0

Olivier Kigotho v/s Sylvester Juma 6/0,6/0

1^st Olivier Kigotho

2^nd Wycliffe Okenye

	Quarterfinals	Semifinals	Final	Winner
1	Garo Josphat
		Garo Josphat
2	Bye 1
			Garo Josphat
3	Owita Antony		6-2 6-2
		Okenye Wycliff
4	Okenye Wycliff	6-2 6-4
				Garo Josphat
5	Kigotho Olivier			6-1 6-0
		Kigotho Olivier
6	Mukhwana David	6-1 6-1
			Otieno Ronex
7	Bye 2		6-4 6-4
		Otieno Ronex
8	Otieno Ronex

BSU-16

Pool A

Henry Ayesiga v/s Amon Muinde 6/2,6/3

Henry Ayesiga v/s Wycliffe Okenye 6/1,6/2

Amon Muinde v/s Wycliffe Okenye 6/3,6/1

1^st Henry Ayesiga

2^nd Amon Muinde

Pool B

John Lutaaya v/s Shabani Kabura 6/3,6/4

John Lutaaya v/s Josephat Garo 6/3,6/2

Shabani Kabura v/s Josephat Garo 7/6(9),7/6(9)

1^st John Lutaaya

2^nd Shabani Kabura

Pool C

Robert Kasombo v/s Olivier Kigotho 6/4,6/1

Robert Kasombo v/s Ronex Otieno 6/2,6/1

Olivier Kigotho v/s Ronex Otieno 6/7(5),7/5,10/7

1^st Robert Kasombo

2^nd Olivier Kigotho

	Quarterfinals	Semifinals	Final	Winner
1	Ayesiga Henry
		Ayesiga Henry
2	Bye 1
			Ayesiga Henry
3	Kabura Shebani		7-6(6) 6-2
		Kabura Shebani
4	Kigotho Olivier	6-1 6-1
				Ayesiga Henry
5	Kasombo Robert			6-3 6-1
		Muinde Amon
6	Muinde Amon	6-0 3-6 [11-9]
			Lutaaya John
7	Bye 2		6-1 6-2
		Lutaaya John
8	Lutaaya John

BSU-18

Jamin Luvembe v/s Amon Muinde 6/1,6/4

Jamin Luvembe v/s Henry Ayesiga 4/6,6/3,8/10

Jamin Luvembe v/s John Lutaaya 6/3,6/7(5),11/9

Jamin Luvembe v/s Robert Kasombo 6/3,6/0

Amon Muinde v/s Henry Ayesiga 2/6,4/6

Amon Muinde v/s John Lutaaya 1/6,2/6

Amon Muinde v/s Robert Kasombo 6/0,3/6,11/9

Henry Ayesiga v/s John Lutaaya 6/1,6/1

Henry Ayesiga v/s Robert Kasombo 6/2,6/3

John Lutaaya v/s Robert Kasombo 6/0,6/0

Winner: Henry Ayesiga

Runner-up: Jamin Luvembe

GSU-18

Chizi Mutsumi v/s Lonah Bhwenje 4/6,6/7(0)

Chizi Mutsumi v/s Melisa Brown 3/6,6/3,4/10

Lonah Bwhenje v/s Melisa Brown 7/6,(6),7/5

Winner: Lonah Bhwenje

Runner-up: Melisa Brown

Sadili Players Dominate 2nd Day Of Heroes Tournament

Sadili Oval's tennis players dominated the matches of U14, U16 and U18 categories at Nairobi Club on the second heroes tournament on Sunday. 
11 year old Sada Nahimana maintained an unbeaten record, to lift the Girls Under 14s after trouncing Mercy Mijide 6/2,6/0 in the semis, and Tonia Kubai 6/2 6/1 in the finals. 
Melisa Brown pushed out of lassitude in the second set to beat Achu Madheui 6/3,5/7 (10) to book a Girls U16 final against Chizi Mutsumi, who had won against the Khadija Ali 6/2 6/3, a match which Chizi won narrowly 3/6 6/3 (11)
Like Sada, Sadili team captain for the tournament, Jamin Luvembe, comfortably dispatched with opposition beating is closest rival, team mate 15 year old John "Metal" Lutaya 6/4,6/2, .
Peter Ndungu 6/0,6/0 to take the Boys U18. Lutaya took the runner-up medal after trouncing Peter Ndungu 6/1 6/0. 
Henry Ayiesiga vs Petty Ananda..6/2,6/2 in the semi-finals of the Boys Under 16, to set up an exciting final against team mate, Shebani Kabura, who won narrowly against yet another Sadili star, Robert Kasombo 6/4 4/6 (10) in the other semis. Shebani overcame Ayesiga 6/4 6/3 to grab the gold medal. 
In other matches, Wycliffe Okenye lost in a close semi-finals against Shivam Shah 6/7(1),4/6 in the Boys U14. 
The tournament served as early preparation towards the East African Zonals in January in early 2013 and to which selected teams are likely to include Olivier, Sada, Chizi, Shebani, Henry, Lutaya and Melissa.
Many thanks to Kassie McIlvaine, Amolo Ngweno and Liz Odera for contributing towards making it possible for the Sadili team to attend the tournament, and to KLTA for giving a waiver for some of the entries.

Sadili Players Glitter at Heroes Tournament

Sadili players dominated the first day of the Heroes Junior Tournament held at Nairobi Club, showing quality tennis and winning most matches played. Although most of them were not ranked, they caused major upsets, mauling through many of  the regular KLTA ranked juniors to regain control of the draw. Results were as follows:

1.Wyclife Okenye beat Dillan Thakker 6/0,3/6,10/8 (Boys U-14)
2. Davis Matanda trounced Kuria Kasumba 6/0,6/3 to (Boys U-12)
3. Antony Owita beat Alex Osodo 6/3 3/6 10/8 (Boys U-12)
4. Ronex Otieno beat Peter Ngatia..6/0,6/3 (Boys U-14)
5. Olivier lost to team mate Henry Ayesiga 3/6 3/6 (Boys U-16)
6. Josphat Garo vs beat Aahil Saleh 6/1 6/3 (Boys U16)
7. Shabani Kabura played team mate Amon Muinde, winning 6/3,6/3 (Boys U16)
8. Sada Nahimana won her matches 6/1 6/1 against in the Girls U14
9. Melissa beat Khadija 6/1,3/6,11/8 in the girls U16 (round robin)
10. David Matanda lost to Ryan Randiek 3/6 2/6 (Boys U12 quarters)
11. Antony Owita lost to Kean Shah 0/6 3/6 in the Boys U12 quarters
12. Wycliffe Okenye beat Samuel Mwangi 6/3,6/1 (Boys U14 quarter finals)
13. Ronex Otieno lost to Isaiah Etale 6/7 (10) 3/6.(U-14 Boys quarters)
14. Shabani beat Martin Luveka 6/3 6/3 in the Boys U16 third round.

Evolve9 Building Tennis & Dreams At Sadili

Ronald Pothuizen, a director of kids tennis company, Evolve9, came to Kenya to run a tennis course for Tennis Tens coaches at Sadili Oval in 2010, and fell in love with the many children in our program, who attempted to play tennis on the side of a hill near Katwekera in Kibera with bats and old tennis balls. He committed immediately committed to building them four mini-courts at Sadili Oval, about 8 minutes away. The courts, when finished, would form a kids & fun centre, giving poor kids and their firends a chance to learn tennis, and learn about life too, by attending the community library nearby. The ground-breaking took place mid this year, and the excavation completed. This has been followed by filling with stone, machine compression, filling with murram and rolling with plenty of water. Then we have been ensuring that the surface is levelled and cared for as we await further fundraising through different ways to have the three final layers done, which will cost another 5,000 euros, and fencing/benches/nets/net posts, that will cost 1500 euros. Thank you to Evolve9 directors and special thanks to Ronald Pothuizen, who carried out a cross-country ski race to raise money to start the project, and continues to work hard talking to companies and friends to keep the fire alive.

If you wish to donate to this project, please do so through Globalgiving on http://globalgiving.org/projects/build-tennis-and-dreams-in-the-kibera-slums-kenya