Rwanda Tennis Federation have borrowed a leaf from their basketball counterparts by calling upon an unknown Europe-based player for national team duty. Ronald Mataba will live a dream when he features for Rwanda in this year’s Davis Cup at just 14 years of age. Mataba, who is a member of the Berkhamsted Elite Tennis Academy in England, is expected to link up with the team in Turkey, the tournament’s host country. According to Thierry Ntwali, an official in the Rwanda Tennis Federation, the teenager is very much up to the challenge. “To be called up, I’m just over the moon,” said Mataba, who qualifies to play for Rwanda through his Rwandan mother. “I really wasn’t expecting it. I’m a little bit worried about everyone being a lot older than me but it’s still really exciting and I’m looking forward to it,” he added. England’s Gazette also reports that Mataba, a towering figure at 6’3 has been working with his coach and mentor Tyrell Stevens for the last two-and-a-half years and according to Stevens, he has come on leaps and bounds during the last 12 months or so. “He’s been steadily developing but over the past year he has improved a lot,” he said. “He’s a big boy for his age and that’s given him that extra power. I think it’s a great achievement for someone so young to be in the men’s team like he is. “He may not be in the highest division but you don’t see many 14-year-olds playing in the Davis Cup.” Mataba is fresh from the Junior Orange Bowl tournament which is the highest rated junior event in world tennis. Rwanda, which is seeded in Group three (Euro-Africa) alongside Estonia, Greece, Iceland, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Botswana and hosts Turkey is chasing for a top two finish to guarantee themselves a promotion into Group two. In 2007, Rwanda were relegated to Group 4 but battled their way back to Group 3 last year after finishing 4th in Armenia.In Turkey, Rwanda will be represented by four players. The trio to join Mataba will be named later today. Ends
