As the much-anticipated Namibia Tennis Association (NTA) tournament draws closer, the coach of Rundu Tennis Club, Mike Kambonde, exudes confidence in his players’ ability to reach the finals and make a mark in the upcoming competition.
The NTA recently announced the hosting of two consecutive tournaments in the picturesque coastal town of Swakopmund.
The junior tournament will take place from December 11th to 13th, while the senior tournament will follow from December 14th to 17th, marking the culmination of the tennis season.
In a recent interview, coach Mike Kambonde told this publication that preparations are in full swing, with the players committed to daily training sessions.
Despite facing some challenges due to students being occupied with exams in the past weeks, the team is now focused on fine-tuning their skills for the main event. “We have started with our training; the kids are doing well training at least every day – and for now, we are just doing some final touches before the main event. We, however, had hiccups a few weeks ago because not all students were available, as some were busy writing their exams,” he explained.
Expressing his ambitions for the tournament, Kambonde emphasised the Rundu Tennis Club aims not only to compete but to achieve significant milestones. He set the target of having at least one player from the club reach the finals in both junior and senior categories.
“We just don’t want to go there and compete; we want to go there and reach a huge milestone. I am hoping and targeting that at least one of our players reaches the finals in both junior and senior categories,” he stated. NTA president Samson Kaulinge provided insights into the tournament’s preparations, noting a substantial number of entries and expecting tough competition, including international participants.
“It’s getting exciting day by day as the event draws closer. We have a huge number of players who have entered, and we hope to have some register before the main event. With the number of players we have, we expect tough competition and exciting tennis to be on display,” Kaulinge said. - mkambukwe@nepc.com.na