Former Rwandan tennis player Mathieu Uwizeyimana has turned to coaching and launched a grassroots development programme aimed at nurturing the next generation of tennis players in Rwanda.
The programme, named Matayo Tennis Initiative, is based at Cercle Sportif de Kigali and focuses on developing young players in the under-8, under-12 and under-18 categories.
Uwizeyimana, the brother of Rwanda’s current No.1 tennis player Étienne Niyigena, played tennis at professional level from 2004 until his retirement in 2020.
The idea of establishing a tennis development programme first came to his mind in 2024 when he met Canadian-Togolese tennis coach Abdou Samadou Aliassime in Lomé, Togo.
Aliassime is the father and coach of world No.4 Félix Auger-Aliassime and runs the Académie Aliassime tennis academy in Quebec, Canada.
The pair were introduced by Daniel Pelletier, a Canadian living in Rwanda.
Having started playing tennis relatively late before going on to represent Rwanda at international competitions, Uwizeyimana said launching the initiative fulfils a long-held ambition to give young players opportunities he did not have growing up.
"I started playing tennis late, but I had the chance to play and even represent my country at international competitions. My dream of grooming future tennis players became more realistic when I had the opportunity to meet Aliassime,” Uwizeyimana told Times Sport.
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He said Aliassime immediately showed interest in supporting the project.
"After a short conversation, he became interested in supporting us by providing equipment. With Cercle Sportif de Kigali also giving us space to train, I believe it is now time to make this dream happen.”
Aliassime has since supported the initiative with sportswear and tennis rackets.
Uwizeyimana, who is now a tennis coach, said the long-term goal is to identify and develop talented youngsters capable of competing at the highest level.
He added that exceptional players who demonstrate significant potential could have opportunities to pursue scholarships in Canada through the partnership with Aliassime.
The Matayo Tennis Initiative currently has 60 boys and girls enrolled and began operations in January.
Former players urged to give back
Uwizeyimana is the latest former Rwandan player to establish a tennis development initiative, following in the footsteps of former national women’s No.1 Joseline Umulisa.
Rwanda Tennis Federation president Théoneste Karenzi welcomed the initiative, saying former players have an important role to play in giving back to the sport and contributing to its future development.
Karenzi said the Matayo Tennis Initiative complements the federation’s own efforts to expand tennis at grassroots level.
"Our responsibility is to develop tennis. It is therefore a joyful moment to witness one of our former players, Uwizeyimana, launching such an initiative because it will contribute to our development programmes,” Karenzi said.
"We will give him our full support.”
The federation is also preparing additional tennis development projects and has identified six sites where new programmes are expected to be implemented.
Karenzi encouraged other former players and legends of the sport to follow Uwizeyimana’s example by giving back, sharing their knowledge and helping guide younger generations.