Africa tennis tourney to go on as planned

THE Africa Junior Tennis Championship will go on as planned next week in Kenya despite the current political tensions in the country, according to the organisers.

Thursday, March 07, 2013
Ernest Habiyambere will lead Rwanda's junior team at the African tennis championships in Nairobi. (Photo T.Kisambira)

THE Africa Junior Tennis Championship will go on as planned next week in Kenya despite the current political tensions in the country, according to the organisers.According to Kenyan media, the tournament director, Francis Mutuku, said there was no turning back and all the 137 players, who have confirmed their participation, are expected to start arriving in the country from as early as Saturday. "We can confirm that the tournament will take place, I just hope that things go back to normal,” said Mutuku.Mutuku said that all traveling arrangements for the players have been finalised and the tournament is expected to kick off this weekend with the warm up games from March 12-17 at Nairobi Club and the public Service grounds.The Rwandan team, coached by Jean Pierre Nshimiyimana, will depart for Nairobi on Monday to play in a few warm-up matches before the tournament starts.Nshimiyimana’s Under-16 team is comprised of Ernest Habiyambere, David Uwimana and Olivier Tuyisenge.The warm-up tournament begins on March 12 through 17 before the main championships start on March 18 to 23.Other countries expected to take part include; Algeria, Benin, Botswana, Burundi, Cameroon, Cote D’ivoire, Egypt, Ethiopia, Gabon, Ghana, Lesotho, Morroco, Nigeria, Tanzania and Zimbabwe.Kenyans have andured a tense week as the country continues to count votes from the March 4 general elections.