Israel Saria
Inedaquate infrastructures accounts for the biggest part of dismal show of tennis Tanzania players at international stage, one of the development coaches Hassan Kassim has confessed.
Kassim, who was the head coach of the national tennis team which participated at the just ended Confederation of African Tennis (CAT) staged in Egypt, said they could have performed better if they were used to playing on clay courts.
The country was represented by five players namely, Nicodemus Emanuel, John Njau, Tumaini Martin, Sara Bura and Edna John.
But it was only Martin who managed to reach the second round and quarterfinals with Nicodemus Emanuel in singles and double categories, respectively.
Kassim said the Tanzanians could not play well on hard courts during the early stage when singles matches got underway.
“With proper infrastructure we could have done much better, for the team, it was the first time they played under such type of courts”, he said.
John Bura who traveled to watch the team playing in Egypt at the event agreed with Kassim’s observation hinting that players are used to hard courts.
Players lost control of bouncing balls in clay courts as contrasted to their familiar flat hard courts.
He said though the clay courts are very difficult to manage; there is a need for the country to have some as nearly all top international tournaments are staged on such category of courts.
He asked the Government to think of constructing a clay court at the sports complex like the National Stadium where the state reserved land for sports development.
“Clay courts are very difficult to manage as they need watering every day and also need closer observation, but if the private sector can be given enough support I am sure we can have some in the country”, he said,
Bura who is also the sponsor of BQ open tennis tournament said his company is ready to construct a clay court if they can be given a land.
SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN
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