Sadili Oval Player Testimonials

Shebani Kabura Is Living His Dreams

2011-07-07T18:59:00.000-07:00

Playing at the UK Tour in May 2010

My name is Shebani Kabura. I was born in 1998 at a place call Buyenzi in Burundi. Buyenzi is a very small slum known widely in Eastern Africa, just like Kibera in Nairobi, Kenya, where there is no electricity, water is hard to find and very few toilets. I was brought up in a very poor family and grow up in a very bad environment. My parents are both jobless and we are ten in our family. I have been playing tennis since I was 8 years old. I used to follow my older brother, Amadi Kagoma, to a local tennis club in Bujumbura, where I would help Amadi when he played with rich members and their children, while picking balls, in order to get some money to pay for our school fees, buy ourselves clothes and food for our family.

I learned a lot while copying my brother Amadi, and he always said that he would one day to go to a good school and get a good job, like many of the rich kids did. When he joined Malezi School in 2006, I was very happy for him, but very sad, because I could no longer follow him. In 2007, when I was 9 years old, Kassie McIlvaine, who had sponsored Amadi to Malezi told me that she would help me go for a special camp in Sadili, and if the lady there liked me, then I would get to join Amadi. I was very excited! I went with a team of players from Burundi, many of us from Buyenzi slum. When we were there, we met many other kids from around Africa and made friends. That is when I met Dr. Liz Odera, who was in charge of Sadili Oval. For two weeks we worked very hard and learned about life and played tennis for many hours. Then some of us were chosen to go for interviews at Malezi School. I was very scared. I did not pass the interview well, but I was one of the 3 children chosen that year, because of my hard work during the camp. I remember that Coach George Muga taught me my backhand during that camp, I had never played a backhand before.

I joined Malezi School the next year, and now I was very happy, because I was back with my brother and he looked after me until I made my own friends. Catching up with school was hard because I had to learn English as we spoke French in Burundi, and I often got into trouble because I did not understand what the teacher was saying and reading was hard for me so I would do my homework. The only subject I liked was Maths because the symbols were easy to understand. I enjoy tennis, and training is very tough. I am working hard to pass my final primary exams this year, and I am praying that Dr. Liz chooses me to join the Sadili Talent Training Academy, next year, where I can balance school and tennis and play many junior tournaments like my brother is doing. I am now ranked number 1 in the Boys Under 16 Tennis Africa Cup, and number 10 in the Confederation of Africa Tennis. With Sadili, I have travelled to America in 2009, where I won a Boys Under 14 tournament. I don’t know what I want to be in the future, but I know that it will have a tennis racquet.

Three Kenyan players selected to tour and train in Brazil

2011-04-10T13:22:00.000-07:00

Three Kenyan players selected to tour and train in Brazil

The Standard Mobile :: Sports

2011-04-10T13:19:00.000-07:00

The Standard Mobile :: Sports: "Malezi School 2010 girls’ tennis team captain Teresa Odera has landed a four-year college scholarship in the US."

Odera, who led her team to win their ninth title at national school games last year, has departed for Southern California, the media capital of the world, where she will play for her university, while pursuing a degree in Cinematography.

"I’m excited because California is one of the best places in the world to be, both as a tennis player and student in Cinematography," an exuberant Odera said shortly before she left for the US.

Former Kenyan school tennis champion trailing blaze in U.S.

2011-04-10T13:04:00.000-07:00

Former Kenyan school tennis champion trailing blaze in U.S.

NAIROBI, Jan. 11 (Xinhua)-- Many young Kenyans leave the country to study in overseas universities on sports scholarships and that is the last time they are heard by the public .

However, that is not the case for former national schools tennis champion Joab Odera who spoke to Xinhua about his studies and tennis exploits in the United States

"A lot of people leave the country for studies in faraway lands and that is the last time the public hears of them. I want the society to know about my tennis and other spheres of life," the 21-year old Odera said in Nairobi when Xinhua caught up with him recently during the long vacation.

Aziza Butoyi Hard Court.wmv

2011-04-10T12:50:00.000-07:00

Aziza Butoyi Hard Court.wmv: "Aziza Butoyi, at a practice session at Sadili Oval Tennis Academy in Nairobi with Owen Nyawalo, before lifting the 2010 Kenya Open Ladies singles crown. Aziza also won the ladies doubles with partner Ohmar Fernandes (South Africa) and mixed doubles with Sadili and Malezi School team mate, Amadi Kagoma (Burundi). Both players train under PTR professional coach, Dr. Liz Odera and are sponsored through Malezi School by Kassie McIlvaine"

Amadi Kagoma is The Team Captain 2010-2011

2010-11-02T05:04:00.000-07:00

My name is Amadi Kagoma. I was born in 1994 at a place call Buyenzi in Burundi. Buyenzi is a very small slum known widely in Eastern Africa. I was brought up in a very poor family and grow up in a very bad environment. My parent are jobless and we are ten in our family. I have been playing tennis since I was 8 years old. I used to follow other older kids to a local tennis club in Bujumbura, where I would pick balls for rich people, and later I picked up courage and started to play in the back courts, imitating how they played. Then I started to play with these rich members and their children in order to get some money to pay my school fees, buy myself clothes and sometimes, some meals for our family.

From the age of eleven, I developed a critical mind about tennis. I always wanting to know more about tennis but most of all, I really wanted to go a real school. You see, because of the wars, Burundi does not have stable public schools. Through tennis, I came to know that sports can take someone far and can earn someone a living, but that it wasn't enough because the rich people's kids all went to school and got big jobs when they completed their education. I decided to apply to for a scholarship to Malezi school since its in doing well both in sports and academically. I was so happy when Kassie McIlvaine and Liz Odera organised to help me join Malezi school in 2006 because I knew very well that I will improve game and the English language and go to a top school.

I have performed well in tennis where I am number two in Burundi both in juniors and seniors. I have played three Africa Junior Championships and I have reached two finals in doubles. I have been playing for my school where my strength is doubles, usually partnering with my former 4-year Captain, Joab Odera (who is now playing college tennis in USA), where we have helped keep Malezi as the national Schools Champion. This year was the singles champion at nationals school games in tennis. I am top-ranked in the Tennis Africa Cup Under 18 Boys. Malezi/Sadili has help me a lot in my life, training me how to grow my game, and helping me travel to different parts of the world, including Tanzania, Rwanda, Uganda, USA, UK and South Africa.
My dream is to perfect to play professional tennis or get a scholarship in America for further studies in order to depend myself in future.

Yasin Shabani Takes A Positive Turn

2010-11-02T04:22:00.000-07:00

My name is Yasini Shabani. I am 17 Years old. I was born in Arusha, Tanzania and come from a very humble family. My parents run small business to keep food on the table, and I often missed school for long periods to help out. I like playing tennis after I finish my studies every day. I started playing tennis when I was 12 years old. I couldn't improve my game as fast as I would have wanted because I lacked the facilities.
When the Sadili Oval Tennis Team came to my country for a tournament, I played very well with one of their top players although I lost narrowly. Due to this, I got a scholarship the following year to join Malezi School, and I finally got a chance to have a good education. While at Malezi, I have played tennis at the National Secondary Schools Games for the past three consecutive years for the school team, which have been winners for the last eight years. I have been playing for the Tanzanian national team for 5 years and I have been the Team captain. In 2009, I represented my country in the Africa Junior Championship in Morocco, and I have also played the East Africa ITF 18 and Under Circuits since 2008. I do well in both my academics and tennis. My dream is to become a tennis professional in the future and an Architect, because I like to design things.

Wangari Believes In Herself

2010-11-02T03:36:00.000-07:00

My name is Wangari Vivienne. I am a twelve year old girl who live in a Kenya. I have lived in Kenya my whole life. I am the last born in a family of three children, and the only girl. I am in class seven Malezi School in Langata, Nairobi. My second brother is two years older than me and the first born is seven years older than me. My parents were both born in Kenya but they have been to different parts of the world. My mother is a lawyer and my father is an electronic  engineer. My hobbies are playing tennis, table tennis, skating and swimming. I play instruments like the piano, guitar and bass drum. One of the sports I always wanted to try is surfing and abseiling. I went to Malezi School so that it would be easier for me to play tennis next door at Sadili Oval Sports Academy. I am the only under twelve girl in Sadili and in the third highest group called OZONE. I am ranked number 2 Under 12 and number 3 under 14 in the Tennis Africa Cup. Although I play other sports I prefer tennis because it enables me to travel the world and get a scholarship. I have been playing tennis for ten years and have no intention of stopping. Playing tennis has also helped me meet famous people like Serena Williams. My first trip out of Africa was to Florida in America and my second trip was to London in England. Tennis has helped me think big and wide. As I meet new friends I learn more about their culture. Tennis has taught me to work hard to achieve my dreams. My dream is to become a heart surgeon or a top tennis player. I don't mind blood and sweat to get there, I actually find it quite interesting. I love tennis and that is why I want to be a great tennis player in the future. I know that I am really good at it, and I can achieve my dream as long as I stay committed.

Dennis Lutaaya Believes That Every Player Must Be Educated

2010-11-02T03:19:00.000-07:00

My name is Lutaaya John Dennis. I am 13 years old and was born on the 9th of January 1997. I am from Uganda. I was born in Nsambya Hospital. I am from a poor family. I am a Tennis player as well as a pupil of Malezi School. I train at Sadili Oval. My parents work in the Industrial Area of Kampala. My father works as a carpenter and my mother is a cook.
I love and treasure my education because it will make me who I aspire to be someday- a mechanical engineer . I also love Tennis because it helped me to come to Sadili, a place where I can improve my game. This happened when, Dr. Liz Odera came to my club in Uganda, and she coached over 20 of us free of charge and chose two of us to join Sadili's players. This happened in 2009 when I was 12 years old. I was really scared that I would not be picked, because I wasn’t the best, but when my name was called out, I became overjoyed because I knew that this was my one big chance in life. When I came to Sadili, my tennis wasn't that good but now, I have tremendously improved and this year, Malezi called me to play for the school team in the national school games, where I reached the semi-finals in the boys singles. I have also had a great chance to play for Uganda in the 14 and Under Circuit in April, I and I am now number 4 in the Tennis Africa Cup. I hope to perform even better next year, so that I my scholarship can be extended. I have seen many tennis players who behave very badly, and my dream is to become a well educated professional tennis player.

HENRY AYESIGA IS AIMING HIGH

2010-11-02T03:01:00.000-07:00

My name is Ayesiga Henry. I am from Uganda. I was born in 1997 and I am 13 years old. I came from one of the small slums found in Kampala, Uganda. Life in that area is hard because of the Hygiene and Health of the place. I was brought up by my Father and Mother. My family is made up of five children. We are four boys and one girl. I am the second born child. I was introduced in tennis by my father because he was working in a tennis club called Kampala Club as a grounds supervisor. The salary that he was getting was not enough to sustain us with all our needs. That made our life hard, because my mother had no job and staying in school was very difficult. I joined tennis at the age of 8 years, while picking balls for members at Kampala Club to earn some money and help my mother and I found the game very interesting. I started working very hard with the encouragement of my father and a member of the club, Mr. John Nagenda, who told me that tennis was my talent. One day, I was told that there was going to be a free tennis camp for all children at Lugogo Stadium, and many children went, and I got to meet Dr. Liz for the first time. Because of my efforts and hard work, I was given a tennis scholarship in Kenya, I have never been so happy and my parents are very proud of me. I finally got to go to Malezi School and I train to improve my tennis at Sadili Oval. My dream is that one day I will become a professional tennis player and a Lawyer after school. I also play basketball and football during my leisure time. I one day dream of achieving my goals and help my family, relatives and friends who need my help. Malezi has helped me to know myself and to discover who I am, and I managed to complete the primary school with good passes in KCPE and graduated to high school this year, where a few of us are now part of Sadili Talent Training Academy, which helps us balance between school and tennis. Through Sadili, I now play very well and have represented Uganda in Under 14 tournaments, and I am also number 2 in the 16 and Under and number 1 in the 14 and Under in the Tennis Africa Cup tournaments (www.tennisafrica.info). In April this year, I played the ITF 14 and Under Circuit, and was runner-up in the first event and won the second one, making me number 18 in the Confederation of Africa Ranking. I also work with younger children from the slums of Kibera every Saturday, helping coach and advise them, all of us are expected to do this at Sadili, and I find it very interesting mentoring other children and watching them improve. I know that it is not easy to look after me, and hope that more people will come out to sponsor more children, but this is my home now, and I am sure that Malezi and Sadili will help me to achieve my goals for the future.

Meet Jamin Luvembe

2010-11-02T02:41:00.000-07:00

My name is Jamin Luvembe and I am 15 years of age. I am a Kenyan citizen. I was born in Kibera slums in Nairobi. Life in the slums is very hard. The toilets are very bad meaning that you have to wear specialised boots to access them. The bathrooms have mosquitoes which expose our health to danger of contracting malaria. Everyone relies on their God for security. There are many jobless youths who attack others when they come from their work places. My brother started going to Sadili and later I asked him to teach me the basics of tennis. Since we had no racquets, we decided to use our hands and a ball since that was the easier way. We did it out of passion even though our hands were paining and turning red. I felt very pleased to know another different sport apart from soccer. I chose tennis because soccer had many players and my chances of going far with it were very low. Soccer had competition and I knew that I was not among the best. I knew at last I could disapprove my fellow ghetto boys. I have travelled to three countries: the USA, Tanzania and Uganda, and I am currently Number 1 in the Tennis Africa Cup tournaments. My tennis has helped me join Malezi School, a very different school from others. People are good and social and they don't discriminate others. They have helped me to be a social and friendly. My life has changed for the burden of school fees is no longer on my parents. I have learnt that whatever you do on the court is for yourself and from your heart. When I travelled I thanked God because it is very rare for a slum child to travel out of the country. I want to become a neurosurgeon or a professional tennis player in the future. This is because I want to save lives and inspire others to do so.