With the East African Junior Teams’ Competition for Under-14 & Under-16 set to serve off today, Wednesday, 4th May at the Ecology Club at IPRC Kigali, Uganda’s Captain for the U-14 boys side Edward Odocken says that he’s inspired by the boys’ U-12 triumph at their event that came to an end over the weekend at the same venue.
Uganda U-12 boys team of Ambrose Byaruhanga, Rajab Muzamil Seebi and Samuel Okello who were captained by Odocken won the East Africa Junior Tennis Championship and dropped just one set in the entire tournament. They qualified for the African Junior Finals of Teams’ Competition. The girls’ side finished third.
“The tactics will remain the same,” Odocken said ahead of the second phase of the competition adding that; “to the team, I trust all the players since they have been active in playing our local tournaments every Sunday.”
“I’m really very happy with the boys’ victory, the lads were physically and mentally strong to out play there opponents. I’m inspired and believe that the rest of the teams will do the same,” Odocken noted.
Odocken who is a trailblazer in the junior tennis arena notes that he’s very familiar with the players and also that most of them have been competing in the the TFA circuit and Serving Up Hope monthly tournament and are in good shape for the show but he urges them to be mentally strong.
However, Uganda will join Rwanda, Tanzania, Kenya, Sudan, Sychelles and Burundi for the 14 & 16 & Under event.
The U-14 & U-16 events are both qualifiers for the African Junior Teams’ Championships (AJTC).
Uganda’s Teams.
Boys U-14; Tony Blair Oweknimungu, Latif Ssendyowa, Jonah Ssentongo.
Boys U-16; Troy Zziwa, Francis Agonzebwa, Allan Otto.
Girls U-14; Abigail Nabasinga, Latifah Kampi, Stacy Namirembe.
Girls U-16; Maggie Flavia Namaganda, Eseza Muwanguzi, Edna Lovinsa Nabiryo.
