FASU hosts first tennis slam

Part of the promised of innovation in sports and athlete development in African university sports, the African University Sports Federation organized her first Tennis Slam at the famous Makerere University in Uganda from the the 19th -20th of April 2019.

With several African federations participating, it was the university athletes in Uganda who seized the opportunity in their home nation to sharpen their skills and enhance their eligibility for the tennis tournament at the Summer Universiade in Napoli, Italy later this year.

The two-day event was a fun fair for supporters who came out to enjoy a weekends developmental tennis under the early summer sunshine. Participating at the tournament included 11 athletes from Makerere university, along with Kyanbogo University, Makerere University Business School and the Ugandan Christian university.

Tennis talents like Daphnie Mukasa and Sandra Khissa dominated the women’s doubles event, with the duo clinical in executing their shots and it was no surprise they emerged champions of their event.

Dennis Woniala and Mugisha Jonathan Gilbert were the stars men in the men’s doubles event. We all love team spirit and collaboration but the game of tennis is majorly an individual affair, and it was the brilliance of Frank Nyango who swung to the top podium becoming the first gold medalist in the men’s singles FASU slam. In women’s singles, Sandra Khissa beat other challengers to clinch the gold medal.

Some of the athletes have the described the experience as unforgettable, while FASU president Nomsa Mahlangu expressed her gratitude to the host university and the participants, she said “ Thank you to all the institutions that sent athletes. To this event, our volunteers coaches, managers and the organizing committee and of course the FASU general secretary Madam Peninnah Kabenge.” 

On the ability of FASU to host its first competition under her leadership Mrs. Kabenge said: “We are excited to host our first Tennis Slam, we trust the tournament will help Africa’s athletes when they go to the Universiade in Napoli, We believe that this competition will grow in the next few years.”

Also on display at the Slam was the growing number of Volunteers led by FISU volunteer Henry Nsekuye under the supervision of General secretary Peninnah Kabenge. One of the Slam volunteers Ernest Akor tweeted after the event “ To be honest volunteering is one of the best things I’ve done in sports, I will look out for more opportunities like this to do so”. T-shirts with the #WeAreAfrica were seen throughout the tournament. The slogan has been deliberately pushed through branded materials and social media hashtags as an identity of the unity of university sports in Africa.

Attention now turns to the 3rd 3×3 Basketball championship to be hosted by The United States International University-Africa in Nairobi Kenya, which is set to take place from 26th-29th April.

All images by Henry Nsekuye