Wheelchair team set to pitch camp in S. Africa

Dar es Salaam. Plans are afoot for the national wheelchair tennis team to pitch a camp in South Africa ahead of the ITF Wheelchair World Team Cup to be held in Italy.

The men’s side, which comprises Hamis Juma and Novatus Temba, secured the ticket to the Sardinia showpiece on Sunday after seeing off Kenya in the qualifiers held at the Nairobi Sports Club.

The weeklong world tournament will take place in two venues, Baia di Conte and Alghero Tennis Club, both in Sardinia. It will start on May 1.

Team trainer Riziki Salum told The Citizen via telephone from Nairobi that the players will take a brief break before flying to South Africa in mid-April where they will train against some of the best athletes.

Salum added that while in South Africa, the duo will compete at the ITF Future Open series that will bring together more than 10 countries mid April.

“We are delighted with what we have achieved in Nairobi. This is a big step for Tanzania’s wheelchair tennis,” said the coach.

“We will take a brief break before resuming training and in mid-April, the team will head off to South Africa where we will train and take part in a serious event.

“I hope that ITF Future Open series, which will bring together a host of top players, will help sharpen the skills of our players as they look forward to leaving a mark in Italy.”

The coach disclosed that the team will depart for Sardinia on April 27, exuding optimism that the duo will be at the best shape to challenge world medals.

On Sunday, Collins Omondi had secured Kenya a 1-0 lead following his 6-2, 7-5 win over Juma in the opening singles match, nonetheless, Tanzania bounced back to win the second singles and the doubles encounters.

Temba was the mastermind of Kenya’s downfall.

The industrious 21-year-old revived Tanzania’s hopes of earning the continent’s sole ticket to Italy after comfortably dismissing Kenya’s Peter Munuve 6-0, 6-2 in the second singles match.

Temba then teamed up with Juma for the decisive doubles match as they dominated the proceeding taking a 4-1 lead before the match was interrupted by rains.

Determined to earn their places at the World Cup, not even the rains could deter the duo from achieving their purpose. On resumption, they cruised to 6-3, 6-1 win and deserved 2-1 victory over Munuve and Omondi to win the Africa men’s slot.