The Tennis Rwanda Children’s Foundation (TRCF) Juniors Championship which concluded at Cercle Sportif de Kigali on Sunday, August 31, will pave the way for new inter-club competitions that the local tennis governing body plans to introduce starting in April 2026. This was confirmed by Rwanda Tennis Federation (FRT) president Theoneste Karenzi during the closing ceremony of the weeklong juniors’ tennis tournament which brought together 80 juniors players, both girls and boys. He said the event not only served as an assessment of young tennis players this but it also sparks federation’s next move to instil inter-club competitions. “Through elevating grassroots tennis, we are going to implement a junior tournament that will focus on the Under-12, Under-14, and junior categories within their clubs. We hope this will instil competitiveness from the lower levels, which will contribute to the future,” Karenzi said. Organised and championed by former Rwandan top seed Joseline Umulisa, the TRCF Juniors Championship brought together 80 young players in Under-12 and Under-14 categories. ALSO READ: Inside efforts to prepare future tennis champions in Rwanda Maombi Ishimwe Ndayisaba and Kevin Ganza emerged winners in the girls’ and boys’ Under-14 category respectively while Juliette Murungi (girls) and Reponse Dushime (boys) also climbed the podium as winners in Under-12 category. The top 6 players in each categoery receided prizes varying from school materials, medals, and tennis outfits among other prizes. ALSO READ: Healing through sport — Umulisa’s journey from trauma to tennis advocate Ganza, who was also named the best player of the tournament, expressed how impactful the tournament had been for him, particularly after landing a scholarship to continue his primary education. “I started playing tennis in 2024 after joining TRCF, but so far I’m already seeing changes and opportunities through the game and the support that will help me and my parents with a scholarship. To be honest, this is amazing,” said the 13-year-old. Ishimwe, 13, who played in the finals in front of her mother, was also excited to win her first medal in tennis. She reflected on the experience as a great chance to compete alongside her peers while making friends. “I had pressure after seeing my mother seated among other parents who were present to support their children, but I also felt encouraged, which drove me to this first victory in my life. Thanks to our coaches for this great opportunity,” she said. A look at the impact Founded in 2022, TRCF enrolls more than 3,000 children, many of whom, however, still lack tennis courts to hone their talents. Despite the challenges, the foundation produced three of the four champions in the just-conlcuded TRCF Juniors Championship while six of the competition umpires were also from the foundation. This goes beyond local competitions as 50 per cent of the team that represented Rwanda at the 2025 ITF/CAT East African Junior Teams' Competition for 12& Under heald in Dar es Salaam in August. According to Umulisa, TRCF's eight of the best players were awarded scholarships, five of whom will study at Kingdom Gate, Busanza while three more were admitted to Sinai Hill Academy. She described the opportunity as creating hope for young talents to afford better education while pursuing their dreams. “As a former tennis player, I went through all difficult situations. One of them was education. So, part of my objectives is to help these young players shine their talents in line with better education,” she said. She thanked Josh Ruxin, one of the sponsors and a parent, for his commitment to support the children’s education by providing school fees from primary school to University education. Reflecting on the foundation’s future plans, Umulisa revealed that TRCF aims to establish training centers across the country. “So far, our foundation has training centers in Kigali, as well as the Southern and Eastern provinces, hosting over 3,000 players with 16 professional coaches. We are now looking to expand to the Northern and Western parts of the country to spread tennis,” Umulisa added. Chantal Marie Uwase, a parents’ representative at the event, reflected that TRCF’s impact speaks for itself, shaping the future of tennis in the country while also guiding children on the right educational path. “I would recommend parents to let their children join the program. As parents, we see our kids not only playing tennis but also learning lessons beyond picking up a racket, they gain lifelong skills. I can confidently say this is enough to secure their bright future,” she said.
