Tanzania Paralympics Committee (TPC) says they are looking for 8m/- to send the country wheelchair tennis national team to Kenya for one week BNP Paribas East African qualifier slated for January 15- 20 in Nairobi.
Speaking in a telephone interview yesterday, TPC chairman Johnson Jansen said the team of six players is currently undergoing extensive trainings at Kijitonyama Tennis Courts.
He said the team needs 2,500 US dollars for registration and 4m/- for transport of six players, a coach and a matron.
The TPC official said the money will also cater for players and officials’ jersey, accommodation and allowances.
Jansen said TPC is working with Tanzania Tennis Association (TTA) seeking for the money and said they have written many companies, organizations and individuals for the money but they have not received any feedback.
“We are looking for 8m/- to send our team to Kenya for the BNP Paribas East Africa qualifications. We have been going up and down searching for the money but nothing has been achieved so far, but we hope to get something as we are not working closely with Tanzania Tennis Association (TTA),”he said.
He said should they fail to honour the tournament, TPC risk be fined 50 US dollars for each player by the International Tennis Federation (ITF).
Jansen named the players who have been selected for the men national team as Yohana Mwila, Thomas Kihiyo and Novatus Emmanuel while for ladies team are Rehema Seleman, Scholastica Pius and Bihawa Mustapha.
He said the team will be coached by Riziki Salum and a matron from Jangwani Secondary School.
The TPC chairman said the players were the ones who were outstanding during the school wheelchair player identification which they carried at Salvation Army Primary School and Jangwani and Pugu secondary schools
