Bura Eyes Total Command in Local Tennis Show

Tanzania Daily News (Dar es Salaam)

Paul John

19 May 2011

LOCAL tennis star Sarah Bura looks keen to stamp her mark at the fourth edition of Mkono Open Junior Tennis Championship that kicks off at the Dar es Salaam Gymkhana Club this weekend.

The 12 year old will be the woman to beat in the 12 and 14 under-age categories as junior tennis athletes totalling over 100 of age between eight and 18 line up for top honours in the two day event courtesy of Nimrod Mkono, the Member of Parliament for Musoma Rural Constituency.

And with more enthusiasm expected this year following the invitation of junior athletes from Nairobi and Mombasa, Kenya, the local tennis enthusiasts and sports fraternity must anticipate one of the most interesting events in local tennis development.

The past years have seen local junior athletes from five regions namely Arusha, Morogoro, Coast, Dodoma and host Dar es Salaam, get an opportunity to show case their prowess ahead of oncoming regional events.

During a training session at the Kijitonyama Tennis Club conducted by Thierry Ntwali, the visiting ITF Development Officer for East Africa, Bura told the ‘Daily News’ she was ready to power her way to the top. After a recent successful trip to Nairobi clay courts, Bura looked stronger than ever when she said: “I am particularly looking forward to play great tennis.

I want to go top and command the way. There is nothing to fear as I will ensure that I take home trophies in both singles and double categories.”

Meanwhile, the visiting ITF Development Officer for East African Tennis Zone Rwandese Thierry Ntwali will get the opportunity to watch the players and earmark at least two beneficiaries of full sponsorship package in education and tennis training from the International Tennis Federation at the East African Tennis Centre in Burundi.

Ntwali, who arrived on Tuesday, will conduct a training session at the Gymkhana Club tennis grounds on Friday evening upon which, the two players aged between 10-12 will be picked.

The lucky athletes will join the East African Tennis Development Centre due to open in Bujumbura, Burundi later in September alongside eight others picked from other countries making up the East African Tennis Zone.

The other countries are competing for a place in the Centre includes Kenya, Burundi, Rwanda, Comoros, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Sudan, Djibouti and Seychelles

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