Team Kenya will be aiming to qualify for the Africa Under-12 Team Championship slated for Egypt when they play in a regional qualifier in Kampala, Uganda
The girls' team is composed of Liya Gikunda, Batseba Ogamba, and Jenerica Thuku while the boys' cadre will comprise Ayan Qaudros, Jyan Patel, and Inidiatsi Olembo.
Coach Caroline Oduor said the girls will be seeking to defend the title they won in 2020 in Tanzania as the boys seek to win it for the first time since 202o.
“The girls are determined to win the title while the boys are aiming to improve on last year's performance," observed Oduor.
Kenya will be up against the hosts Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, and Sudan in the week-long event and the former tennis player expects stern competition from the hosts Uganda and Rwanda.
“The two countries have very good young players coming through and I expect them to push us all the way. on the other hand, our girls are more than ready for the challenge," added Oduor.
The team has been training for the past month on the upgraded Nairobi courts and believes this experience will be helpful in the Uganda show.
“The courts are in good condition and I expect a similar surface in Kampala. We are more than ready for the challenge," noted Oduor.
Gikunda, who had the experience of playing at various age-grade tournaments from age 8 to age 10, said they can cope with the pressure by virtue of them being defending champions.
“ I believe every team will want to beat us but our coaches have prepared us well and worked on several aspects of our play ranging from our agility on the court to the forehand and backhand serves to many other aspects,” noted Gikunda.
Elsewhere, the 2022 Wimbledon doubles junior champion Angela Okutoyi and Beverly Nyangom of France clinched the doubles category of the Women's 15's tournament in Monastir, Tunisia.
The duo edged Italians Samira De Staefano and Gala Parravicini 6-4 , 3-6, 10-2. Okutoyi had lost in the second round of the singles category and the win was a major boost for her after a torrid week.
