By sportsnewsarena correspondent
Aug 31, 2016
At the ongoing ITF 12 & Under African International Championships in Casablanca, Morocco, Day Two was a bad day for the East African team when they came up against the team from the North.
With Burundi’s Abdul Nuru Nduwimana failing to travel to represent East Africa, the Boys team had an uphill task with one of the three Singles to be played going automatically to the Northern Boys’ team.
Having forfeited the first singles tie due to Abdul Nuru’s absence, Kenyan Kael Shah had the task of leveling the tie for East Africa.
A nervous show however led to a 1-6 1-6 loss for Shah against Majdi Ben Abdelwahed.
Tanzania’s Kanuti Alagwa Omary was second on court for the East but didn’t fare much better than his team mate going down 1/6 0-6 to Hamza ElAmine.
With the afternoon Doubles left to save East Africa’s blushes, Omary and Shah were expected to put on a better team show than in their Singles matches. Against Ben Abdelwahed and Michael Bassem Sobhy, the expected challenge never came as the Northerners beat them 6-2 6-0.
The Girls team had won against the South on Day One and were looking to make it two wins from two against the North. First on court was Rosemary Asumwa. Up against Bonia Benhlaben however, Asumwa could only manage two games as the North put on a dominant opening performance.
A 6-1 6-1 win for Benhlaben put the North in control as Asumwa’s sister Angella Okuyoti went in to play the second Singles. Her’s was a much tougher contest against Doha Zeghlouli. In two sets however, Zeghlouli emerged the winner in a tense 7-5 7-6(4) duel.
Alicia Owegi played the third Singles and her challenge was below par against Ghaida Jeribi with the North winning this one 6-1 6-0 heading into the Doubles.
The sister act of Asumwa and Okutoyi put on a fight and a show in the Doubles as they pushed Zeghlouli and Jeribi all the way.
The match went the full distance with the Northerners finally emerging 6-3 2-6 10-5 winners. West Africa will be the next opponent for the East African team on Wednesday.
