Kenya's Under-12 tennis team have set sights on next year's Africa Junior Championships after bagging bronze in this year's edition in Mozambique.
Team Kenya finished third overall with Tunisia winning gold and Ghana settling for silver during the week-long championship held in Maputo.
The tournament which attracted five teams also featured Zimbabwe and Namibia. Seline Ahoya said the gap between them and the winners Tunisia is not big and with adequate preparations for the next year, they can match them and even win the tour.
"I believe we are quite competitive in our matches and going forward, the results in the just concluded event, give us confidence that we can win the tournament next year,” she added.
Ahoya called on the government to put up more facilities to encourage more tennis players in the country in order to compete at the highest level.
"I believe we need access to tennis courts and facilities to improve our game and ensure we are able to match the best on the continent in the years to come,” she noted.
Kenya lost to Ghana 2-1in the tournament opener but bounced back to beat Namibia 3-0 and Zimbabwe 2-1 to complete the podium positions. Ahoya partnered Nancy Kawira and Liya Gikunda in the championship.
Coach Veronica Osogo who accompanied the team to the tournament said the future is bright for tennis in the country.
“ We have a good crop of juniors coming through and if we can expose them to such high-profile tournaments in subsequent years, we will be in a good position," she noted.
