Uganda Tennis junior team in Lome city, Togo

Overview:

The main tournament has been preceded by a Grade 2 ITF/CAT U-14 event at the Stade Omnisport Togo, Lome city (11th to 15th March 2023).

  • Competition: ITF/CAT Individual Africa Junior Championship 2023
  • Dates: 16th – 21st March
  • Venue: Stade Omnisport – Lome, Togo

Three Uganda junior tennis players are in Lome city, Togo for the U-14 ITF/CAT Individual Africa Junior championship (AJCHC) slated for 16th to 21st March 2023.

Two boys; Latif Ssendyowa and Jonah Ssentongo traveled alongside one girl Claire Nalubuula for the championship.

This followed an excellent performance at the East African Regional zonal tournament in Bujumbura, Burundi held in January this year.

The main tournament has been preceded by a Grade 2 ITF/CAT U-14 event at the Stade Omnisport Togo, Lome city (11th to 15th March 2023).

Ssendyowa and Ssentongo were finalists in the doubles draw of the zonals championship.

Jonah Ssentongo (right) with a junior player from Togo

They also finished ranked 2nd and 4th respectively in the singles draw of the zonals in the U-14 age category.

The duo follows in the footsteps of Troy Adrian Zziwa and Trevor Kazibwe who were the last players at the Africa Individual Junior Championship on Clay Court hosted by Tunisia.

Nalubuula is ranked 76th as she breaks the new ground for ladies’ tennis as the first girl at the AJC for Uganda in over 12 years.

She follows Lydia Ndagire represented Uganda with Davis Cup player Simon Ayella at the AJC in 2010.

Claire Nalubuula (left) greets an opponent.

Experienced Junior player coach Edward Odockcen continues on a stellar career growth path.

Odocken led the team to the AJC U-12 final event twice (2019- Morocco & 2022- Maputo) only missing out in 2020 due to the Omicron outbreak as well as the AJCCC Tunisia U-14 final event.

Team Uganda:

Boys:

  • Latif Ssendyowa
  • Jonah Ssentongo

Girl:

  • Claire Nalubuula

Head coach:

  • Edward Odockcen

David Isabirye is a senior staff writer for Kawowo Sports where he covers most of the major events.

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