Rundu academy earns six Junior Masters spots
Rundu Tennis Academy has earned six places at the season-ending Namibia Tennis Association (NTA) Junior Masters Championship in Windhoek this weekend.
The tournament brings together the country’s top eight-ranked players in each age category to battle for national honours.
Among the qualifiers is U12 boys’ contender Ilan Aisindi, who punched above his weight to win the men’s singles title at the academy’s tournament held at Kavango River Lodge in Rundu last weekend.
Aisindi defeated fellow Masters qualifier Emilson “Paizinho” Ngola, who will compete in the U14 boys’ section, in straight sets 6-3, 6-2 to claim gold despite facing older opposition. The men’s bronze medal went to Dihinga Kabongo.
U12 girls’ qualifier Apple Shuro also tested herself against senior opposition and finished runner-up in the women’s singles after falling 6-2, 6-1 to champion Chantel Ausiku. The women’s bronze went to Johanna Sikondo.
Aisindi and Shuro are among six academy players who earned Masters invitations after finishing among the country’s top eight in their respective age categories during the season.
Joining them are U14 boys’ representative Ngola, U16 girls’ contender Alicia Hausiku, U10 boys’ qualifier Sikongo Aisindi and U14 girls’ representative Joy Mbangula.
Final preparations
Tournament coordinator Korea Roseman said the competition was organised to give the Masters-bound players valuable match practice before travelling to Windhoek, while also encouraging youngsters still developing their game.
The event attracted 16 entries, all from Rundu Tennis Academy, currently the only tennis academy in Kavango East.
This was the second year the academy had organised its own tournament, having hosted juniors last year before introducing senior competition for the first time this year.
Sikongo Aisindi also claimed the junior boys’ singles title after defeating Happy Disanka Kabongo 8-4 in the final, while Tujaliwe Bonongwe secured bronze. There were no entries in the junior girls’ singles division.
The tournament also featured senior and junior mixed doubles categories, with players allowed to compete in same-gender partnerships rather than the conventional male-female pairings.
In the senior section, the men’s pairing of Roseman and Ngola defeated Dihinga Kabongo and Hoased Bathlomeus 6-2, 6-4 for the title.
Also competing were the women’s pair of Alicia Hausiku and Johanna Sikondo, along with Ilan and Salomon Aisindi in another men's partnership.
In the junior mixed doubles, the boys’ duo of Sikongo Aisindi and Happy Disanka Kabongo claimed the title after defeating the girls’ pair of Apple Shuro and Tujaliwe Bonongwe 6-2, 6-1.
Growing the game
Roseman said the tournament was another step in the academy's efforts to develop tennis in Kavango East, with the aim of producing players capable of competing beyond the region.
He explained that the academy’s approach centres on introducing youngsters to the sport, developing their skills and keeping them involved as they progress.
“My role is simple: create, groom and maintain. At this level, we are still grooming them. The time to maintain that progress will come in the next year or two,” said Roseman.
He added that the turnout and progress made by the players have been encouraging and credited parents for their continued support.
“Seeing how much the players have improved since we started working with them is an amazing feeling,” he said.
The academy’s growing presence beyond Kavango East has also drawn recognition on the national junior tennis circuit.
As reported by this publication earlier this month, ninth NTA Junior Tennis Tournament director Jandre Bezuidenhout highlighted the academy’s “consistent participation” in national tournaments this season.
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