Tough day in office for Uganda Tennis players at 13th African Games

Overview:

Focus switched to the double pairings where Uganda faced Togo and neighbours Kenya on Sunday evening. Ayella and Tayebwa faced up Kenya's John Albert Njogu and Kevin Cheruiyot. The duo of Kazibwe and Mawa were in action against Charles Kodjo and Roland Kwami of Togo.

It was a tough outing for Uganda Tennis team during the opening day of Tennis for the 13th African Games in Ghana’s capital city, Accra.

Action at the Bortyman sports complex Tennis courts witnessed all the four Ugandan players fall at the round of 64.

Frank Tayebwa, Simon Ayella, Saidi Mawa and Trevor Kazibwe all lost their respective games.

Said Mawa greets Zimbabwean John Lock Ingram Courtney | Credit: John Batanudde

The first in the fray was Tayebwa who fell 2-0 to Algerian opposition, Mohammed Silimane Kichou.

Kichou won the game 7-5 and 6-1 to progress to the round of 32.

Ayella fell to Zambia’s dread-locked Dickson Phiri 1-2. Phiri won the the opener 6-3 before Ayella bounced back to make it 6-1 and force a tie-breaker.

The tie breaker had Phiri triumph 11-09 to progress to the subsequent round where he faced Angola’s Emerson Pedro.

Simon Ayella in action against Dickson Phiri. The Zambian won 2-1 (6-3, 1-6, 10-9) | Credit: John Batanudde

Saidi Mawa in action against Zimbabwe’s John Lock Courtney Ingram | Credit: John Batanudde

The third player to fall for Uganda was Mawa who lost 2-0 to Zimbabwe’s ace; John Courtney Ingram Lock

Courtney easily won the game 6-1 and 6-1 after Mawa had suffered a muscle strain.

“It was a great start but i suffered an early arm injury, making it a big set-back that affected my game. Nonetheless, its been a good experience to challenge a highly ranked player” Mawa consoled self after the game.

Trevor Kazibwe ready to serve the ball against Kenya’s Kevin Cheruiyot. The Kenyan won 6-2 and 6-1 under floodlights | Credit: John Batanudde

Under floodlights, Kazibwe lost to Kenya’s Kevin Cheruiyot 1-6 and 2-6. Chruiyot advanced to the round 32 to lock-horns against South African Leo Tyrone Nathan Matthysen.

Uganda head coach Edward Odockcen was gracious in defeat; tagging the championship as a stepping stone to his players.

“Upon every step you reach, you are humbled. I am confident our players will not remain the same after the experience at the African Games. We take home important lessons” Odockcen revealed.