Tennis Africa News
30th African Junior Championships
Nine Months after hosting the Euro-African Davis Cup group III in July 2006, the Botswana Tennis Association (BTA) renewed with one of the greatest Continental Events, the African Junior Championships (AJC) and the African regional qualifying events for the 16 & Under and 14 & Under ITF junior team competitions in Gaborone at its National Tennis Centre from 9 to 15 April 2007.
Several important personalities have honoured by their presence this event such as CAT President Mr Tarak Cherif, ITF Board and ITF President's Representative Mr Ismail El Shafei, ITF Executive Director of Development Mr Dave Miley.
Mrs Dorcas Makgato-Malesu Botswana National Sport Council Chairperson has honoured the closing ceremony by her attendance, she was accompanied by Mr Falcon D. Sedimo, Director of Sport and Recreation.
The 30th edition of the AJC gathering more than 200 players and coaches coming from 24 nations was very well organised by the BTA. Professor M. Masale, President of BTA, Mr Nelson Amanze Secretary General of the BTA and Mr Tuelo Daniel Serufho, Tournament Director and all his staff did very well to make successful this great event.
Professor Masale commented before the start of the competition: "It is my sincere conviction that these competitions will take place under the umbrella of serenity that our country offers. Please be mindful of the doctrine that sports can be used as an effective tool to unite and promote cordial relations between communities and even nations" he added "The Botswana Tennis Association, on behalf of the nation, humbly embraces the honourable gesture of the International Tennis Federation to 'sanctify' hosting these Junior championships in Botswana, in fact, for the very first time".
The last day of the 30th ITF/CAT African Junior Championships (AJC) saw South Africa add to its silverware by clinching the team trophy for the twelfth time. The nation edged out 2006 champions Morocco to claim the trophy, in what was one of the closest ever finishes with only 30 points separating the two teams.The team trophy sees players gain points for their countries according to their individual singles and doubles results in the three age groups, with the nation with the highest total winning the trophy. South Africa and Morocco both won three of the six singles trophies, but South Africa outperformed their rivals in doubles, winning three titles, with Morocco, Tunisia and Zimbabwe capturing one apiece.The hotly contested title of African Junior Champions was decided by the final match of the week in which South Africa's Damian Hume played the match of his life. He seemed in control of the match after winning the first set 63, but things quickly turned in Safwat's favour. Safwat took the second set 62 and it was level at 5-all in the third set. However, Hume held his nerve with some big forehands to break Safwat and then served it out, taking the match on his third match point to claim the title of African Junior Champion and to secure the team trophy for South Africa. Hume said: "I never expected to beat all these players. After losing the first two match points, I could hardly walk but I'm just very thrilled to win the title not just for myself, but for our team."
Another South African, Grant Ive made the comeback of the day when he fought off a 63 51 deficit to dispatch Morocco's Hicham Khaddari 36 75 64 in the Boys' 16 & Under final. Grant, clearly relieved, said after the match, "After breaking Hicham at 52 down in the second my confidence grew and I realised that I had a chance".
South Africa's third victory came in the Girls' 14 & Under final in which Kaylea Sher defeated compatriot Janine Erasmus 62 64. Sher commented, "After doing so well last week in the 18 & Under event, I felt the pressure going back down to the 14 & Under event. I have played Janine many times in the past and at 44 30-all in the second set, I came up with a great backhand and that was the key moment for me."
Morocco's three singles champions were Younes Matrougui, who defeated Hernus Pieters of South Africa 64 75 in the Boys' 14 & Under final, Lina Bennani, who dominated the Girls' 16 & Under event and took the title, overcoming Menna El Nagdy (EGY) 75 63, and Fatima El Allami, who successfully defended her Girls' 18 & Under title in a two hour battle against fellow Moroccan Nadia Lalami 64 64. El Allami said after the match, "I am just feeling so happy because this was my last year in juniors and I played very well. I had a lot of pressure as I was the defending champion and this was my last AJC. The coaches were there when I needed them. The tournament was very well organised and I thank everybody that helped me far and near, especially my parents. It was more difficult to win this year so I enjoyed this victory more."
However, North Africa could put aside some of its disappointment at not winning the team trophy as they lifted the first ever African Junior Championships inter-zone trophy which takes into account the ten best singles and ten best individual doubles results by players from each zone.
The African Junior Championships also included the African regional qualifying events for the 16 & Under and 14 & Under ITF junior team competitions. Based on their nations' ranking at the end of African Junior Championships, four nations took part in each qualifying event, with the following countries qualifying for the finals later in 2007:
Junior Davis Cup by BNP Paribas (16 & Under): South Africa
Junior Fed Cup by BNP Paribas (16 & Under): Morocco and South Africa
World Junior Tennis (14 & Under Boys): Egypt
World Junior Tennis (14 & Under Girls): South Africa
Finally it is important to thank the referee of this event South African Ian Smith and his Assistant, Algerian Tarik Safir, the ITF Staff conducted by Frank Couraud, Karl Davies, Natalie Hodsgon and ITF Development Officers Amine Ben Makhlouf and Prince Madema .
Following the 30th edition of the AJC, the CAT Development Committee and CAT Executive Committee have held their periodic meetings in Gaborone successively on the 10 and 11 April 2007.
A forum about "What is the ITF?" gathering all players and coaches was organised on the 13 April and presented by Hichem Riani CAT General Manager and Dave Miley, ITF Executive Director of Development.
For further information's click here
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Several important personalities have honoured by their presence this event such as CAT President Mr Tarak Cherif, ITF Board and ITF President's Representative Mr Ismail El Shafei, ITF Executive Director of Development Mr Dave Miley.
Mrs Dorcas Makgato-Malesu Botswana National Sport Council Chairperson has honoured the closing ceremony by her attendance, she was accompanied by Mr Falcon D. Sedimo, Director of Sport and Recreation.
The 30th edition of the AJC gathering more than 200 players and coaches coming from 24 nations was very well organised by the BTA. Professor M. Masale, President of BTA, Mr Nelson Amanze Secretary General of the BTA and Mr Tuelo Daniel Serufho, Tournament Director and all his staff did very well to make successful this great event.
Professor Masale commented before the start of the competition: "It is my sincere conviction that these competitions will take place under the umbrella of serenity that our country offers. Please be mindful of the doctrine that sports can be used as an effective tool to unite and promote cordial relations between communities and even nations" he added "The Botswana Tennis Association, on behalf of the nation, humbly embraces the honourable gesture of the International Tennis Federation to 'sanctify' hosting these Junior championships in Botswana, in fact, for the very first time".
The last day of the 30th ITF/CAT African Junior Championships (AJC) saw South Africa add to its silverware by clinching the team trophy for the twelfth time. The nation edged out 2006 champions Morocco to claim the trophy, in what was one of the closest ever finishes with only 30 points separating the two teams.The team trophy sees players gain points for their countries according to their individual singles and doubles results in the three age groups, with the nation with the highest total winning the trophy. South Africa and Morocco both won three of the six singles trophies, but South Africa outperformed their rivals in doubles, winning three titles, with Morocco, Tunisia and Zimbabwe capturing one apiece.The hotly contested title of African Junior Champions was decided by the final match of the week in which South Africa's Damian Hume played the match of his life. He seemed in control of the match after winning the first set 63, but things quickly turned in Safwat's favour. Safwat took the second set 62 and it was level at 5-all in the third set. However, Hume held his nerve with some big forehands to break Safwat and then served it out, taking the match on his third match point to claim the title of African Junior Champion and to secure the team trophy for South Africa. Hume said: "I never expected to beat all these players. After losing the first two match points, I could hardly walk but I'm just very thrilled to win the title not just for myself, but for our team."
Another South African, Grant Ive made the comeback of the day when he fought off a 63 51 deficit to dispatch Morocco's Hicham Khaddari 36 75 64 in the Boys' 16 & Under final. Grant, clearly relieved, said after the match, "After breaking Hicham at 52 down in the second my confidence grew and I realised that I had a chance".
South Africa's third victory came in the Girls' 14 & Under final in which Kaylea Sher defeated compatriot Janine Erasmus 62 64. Sher commented, "After doing so well last week in the 18 & Under event, I felt the pressure going back down to the 14 & Under event. I have played Janine many times in the past and at 44 30-all in the second set, I came up with a great backhand and that was the key moment for me."
Morocco's three singles champions were Younes Matrougui, who defeated Hernus Pieters of South Africa 64 75 in the Boys' 14 & Under final, Lina Bennani, who dominated the Girls' 16 & Under event and took the title, overcoming Menna El Nagdy (EGY) 75 63, and Fatima El Allami, who successfully defended her Girls' 18 & Under title in a two hour battle against fellow Moroccan Nadia Lalami 64 64. El Allami said after the match, "I am just feeling so happy because this was my last year in juniors and I played very well. I had a lot of pressure as I was the defending champion and this was my last AJC. The coaches were there when I needed them. The tournament was very well organised and I thank everybody that helped me far and near, especially my parents. It was more difficult to win this year so I enjoyed this victory more."
However, North Africa could put aside some of its disappointment at not winning the team trophy as they lifted the first ever African Junior Championships inter-zone trophy which takes into account the ten best singles and ten best individual doubles results by players from each zone.
The African Junior Championships also included the African regional qualifying events for the 16 & Under and 14 & Under ITF junior team competitions. Based on their nations' ranking at the end of African Junior Championships, four nations took part in each qualifying event, with the following countries qualifying for the finals later in 2007:
Junior Davis Cup by BNP Paribas (16 & Under): South Africa
Junior Fed Cup by BNP Paribas (16 & Under): Morocco and South Africa
World Junior Tennis (14 & Under Boys): Egypt
World Junior Tennis (14 & Under Girls): South Africa
Finally it is important to thank the referee of this event South African Ian Smith and his Assistant, Algerian Tarik Safir, the ITF Staff conducted by Frank Couraud, Karl Davies, Natalie Hodsgon and ITF Development Officers Amine Ben Makhlouf and Prince Madema .
Following the 30th edition of the AJC, the CAT Development Committee and CAT Executive Committee have held their periodic meetings in Gaborone successively on the 10 and 11 April 2007.
A forum about "What is the ITF?" gathering all players and coaches was organised on the 13 April and presented by Hichem Riani CAT General Manager and Dave Miley, ITF Executive Director of Development.
For further information's click here