The junior doubles teams: (l-r) Christiaan du Preez and Lars Schule (winners), Tevin Tait and Fifi Tjitemisa (runners-up), Chaylon de Koe, Oliver Diggle, Shannon de Koe, Rozaan and Abissier Leukes. At the back are Cliffordt Ngunovandu (coach) and Norman Makuwaza (coach & tournament director).
GREAT excitement were experienced during the mini, midi and doubles tennis tournaments that were hosted during this month by Pro Tennis Academy. The mini-tennis tournament was dominated by the talented players from St George’s who swept up the gold, silver and bronze medals in the u/10 events.
Elizma Nortje, director and head coach of Pro Tennis Academy, said it’s truly encouraging to see schools such as St George’s, Windhoek Gymnasium, Emma Hoogenhout, etc. participating in these important development tournaments, but most of all to observe the talent among these kids.
“If they are well taken care of and wisely progress through all the developmental stages of tennis, Namibia has a bright future ahead! Many of these mini-tennis players were identified to progress to the midi-court tennis tournament that was hosted the following weekend,” Elizma said.
The doubles tournament was definitely the highlight of the August events hosted by Pro Tennis Academy! The finals of the senior doubles event between father/daughter team and the Brazilian mother/son team caused great excitement with a titanic, see-saw match that could have tipped over to either side!
The Midi Court winners. Front row (l-r) Blessing Chizengeya (bronze), Cliffordt Ngunovandu (coach), Monique Schulte (silver) and Elizma Nortje (coach). Middle: Morne Coetzee and Simba rashe Nyambiya (gold). Top: Keala Schimming and Chanton Mackrill.
However, it was Graeme and Mandy Bruce (father/daughter team) which was victorious in the end with a very close encounter and win of 7/6 (7/5) in the final set over the high-spirited and fired up Brazilian mother/ son team of Roberta and Erik Dimbuzeiro.
“It is very important to host more doubles events. Our juniors are not exposed enough to doubles play, which indirectly complements a player’s singles game. Also, playing as a team brings a great fun element to the game of tennis,” was the words of Norman Makuwaza, PTA Tournament director and coach.
These tournaments also complement and provide a platform for all the players that participate in the very successful and popular Pro Tennis Adult program. Many adults who would like to start playing tennis or who after many years of not being actively playing want to take it up again, don’t know where to start brushing up on their tennis skills in a comfortable environment with players of similar standard.
The father & daughter team Graeme and Mandy Bruce (far end) celebrate their victory in the Pro Tennis Academy senior doubles final match over the Brazilian mother & son combination Roberta and Erik Dimbuzeiro (near).
These adult classes provide for these needs, plus the great advantage that they meet other players to play and practice with afterwards on a social basis and in their own leisure time, said Elizma. The next adult lessons will start in early September.
Pro Tennis Academy also hosts a tennis camp and tournament for all standard of players, mini, midi and full-court, from beginner to advanced level during the school holiday starting 30 August to 3 September 2010.
Elizma can be contacted at 081 240 0560 or pta_eliz@mweb.com.na for more information.
Once again the organisers thank Wimpy who sponsored every participant and all the winners in these events with Wimpy vouchers.
Results:
Mini tennis tournament winners and participants with Pro Tennis Academy coaches Elizma Nortje, Norman Makuwaza and Cliffordt Ngunovandu.
U/8 – Andries du Toit (gold); Unotjari Katunohange (silver); Albert Weck (bronze).
U/10 – Oliver Diggle (gold); Morne Coetzee (silver); Chanton Mackrill (bronze).
