Rwanda will have three players in tomorrow’s Castle Lite Uganda Tennis Open finals at Kampala Club as the weekend tournament reaches a climax.
Dieu donne Habiyambere ejected defending champion David Oringa 6-3,6-3 to set up all Rwanda final with his compatriot Jean Claude Gasigwa, who beat 2011 Uganda Open winner Duncan Mugabe 6-4,7-6(8-6) in a dramatic semi-final that had the chair umpire overshawdowing the action from the on set of the game.
Gasigwa, who has been a regular at this prestigious event was caught up in a game that had him quarrelling and arguing over several line calls by tennis player turned umpire Henry Kizza, who controversial ended the game when he gave the Rwandan a penalty as he was serving for the game at 7-6 in a nail-biting second and final set.
“The umpire was killing both of us on the court and if they can’t first get training then we shall stop coming for this tournament,” a furious Gasigwa said after his controversial win. “I am happy with the win and am looking forward to a tough encounter with Habiyambere come tomorrow.”
Oringa shared the same sentiments of the poor umpire and changing of courts at the last moment. “The changing of courts at the last moment changed my game plan, but also the umpires have been sloopy and poor,” Oringa stated.
Rwanda’s Megan Ingabire dumped Rehema Athumani, from Tanzania 6-0,6-3 enroute to booking her place in tomorrow’s Ladies final. Zimbabwe’s Faozai Mawisire beat Kenya’s Shuffa Changawa 6-1, 6-2.
This year’s event attracted players from Rwanda,Kenya,Tanzania,Zimbabwe and Cameroun and is sponsored by Nile Breweries under their brand label Castle Lite together with Housing Finance Bank.
The men’s winner will walk away with 2.5 million while the ladies winner gets 2 million shillings.