WINDHOEK – The best schools from the Central and Erongo regions competed in the FNB National School Tennis League for the under/10 and u/14 age groups at the CTC Tennis Park in Windhoek last weekend.
To qualify for the finals, schools contested in a round robin format against seven schools in their region with the best two going through to the national finals.
Each team consisted of four boys and four girls with matches played out in the “Play & Stay” format. This format comprises softer and bigger tennis balls as well as lower nets while matches are played on smaller courts, which help players by teaching them tactics and technique at an early age.
The league is an excellent platform for young players to play competitively.
Johan Theron, team manager of the successful Namibian Davis Cup team and Namibia Junior Tennis president, encouraged the top players to enter NTA Junior tourneys in the u/8, u/10 u/12 age groups.
Final Results:
Windhoek Afrikaans Private School (WAP) won the u/10 division, with Walvis Bay taking home the silver medal in the team competition.
In the u/14 division, Suiderhof was too strong for Walvis Bay, but with two 2nd rank medals, the coastal newcomers made a huge impression.
Results for individual performances:
Girl’s u/10
Gold medal went to Marselle Slabbert from Windhoek Afrikaans Private School and the runner-up spot went to Walvis Bay’s Renee Rabie. In the boys section, Van Der Merwe Tromp of WAP came out tops leaving fellow WAP student Jaden Smith to pick up the pieces for 2nd place.
In the u/14 boys division, Divan De Ploy of Walvis Bay Primary School claimed honours with Walvis Bay’s Tian De Klerk adrift in 2nd spot. The top u/14 girl was Jody van der Byl from Hermann Gemeiner P/S tailed by Gwenith Koper from Suiderhof P/S.