Crucial experience for U12 teams in Maputo
Tennis
Six of the country’s budding tennis prodigies recently competed at the Southern African Junior Teams Competition for U-12s in Maputo, Mozambique, and came away with crucial experience.The International Tennis Federation (ITF) and Confederation of African Tennis (CAT) event saw Namibia field the boys’ team of Shafishuna Shimali, Breyton Bezuidenhout and Pameni Paulus, along with the girls’ team of Janice Bezuidenhout, Madison Hoff and Niamey Marcus.
The Namibian talent went up against players from hosts Mozambique, Botswana, Angola, Eswatini, Lesotho, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Tough opposition
Both teams were placed in Group A with Lesotho, Mozambique, South Africa and Botswana, where they faced tough opposition, recording their only victory when the girls beat Mozambique 3-0 in matches.
The boys’ best efforts came in their opening tie against Botswana, where they managed to take a set but ultimately went down 2-1 in matches.
In the playoffs, the girls battled for positions five to eight. After a narrow 2-1 loss to Zambia, they went on to defeat Mozambique 2-0, as the doubles rubber was not contested, to clinch seventh overall out of eight teams. The girls’ event was won by South Africa.
The boys’ seventh to ninth place playoffs saw Namibia finally gain momentum, beating Mozambique 3-0 before overcoming Lesotho 2-0, with the doubles rubber not played. The boys secured seventh place out of nine teams overall, with South Africa finishing first in the overall event.
‘We will come back stronger’
Reflecting on the tournament, coach Mickey Alemu took it on the chin and looked at the positives, indicating that the experience was most important and would be utilised to come back stronger at the next tournament.
Acknowledging the tough competition, Alemu said Namibia were grouped against some of the top-seeded teams at the event.
“South Africa were ranked first in the girls’ section, followed by Botswana in second, Zimbabwe in third and Lesotho in fourth. As for the boys’ section, South Africa were ranked first, followed by Zimbabwe and Eswatini in second and third places, respectively.”
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