Today's Headlines
- Two Exhibitions Are On At Ramoma, Nairobi
- Country to Review Tourism Law
- Econet Wireless Finally Rolls Out
- Odinga Warns of Civil Unrest
- Mulee Rules Out Harambee Stars U-Turn
- Taking Up a Women's Agenda
- More Than 6,000 Christian Youth Converge for Prayers
- Catholic Church Outraged By MPs' Refusal to Pay Tax
- Pope Benedict Praying for Release of Abducted Nuns
- Thousands Flee Amid Fears of Border Clashes
- Malaria Rates Plummet Among Children
- Winning Against HIV Stigma Behind Bars
- First Congress of Federation of African Journalists a Historic Milestone, Says IFJ
- Archbishop Lele Urges State to Act as Food Crisis Bites
- Regional Workshop Focus Border Management, Irregular Migration
- Silverbird Acquires Kenya's Nu Metro, Starts Operations in Ghana
- Raila is Evil, Says Minister
- Man Charged With Abduction of Two Catholic Sisters
- UN Censures State On Torture
- Agencies Seek $390 Million to Offset Climate And Food Risks
- UN-Backed Scheme Gives 3,000 Prisoners Clean Water and Sanitation
- Samosa Festival is On in Nairobi
- Heartstrings in Another Comedy
- Govts, Investors Engage RVR in Rail Bid
- Mwangi Replaces Mwebesa At NSE
- Riepa Hosts Business Association
- ICTR Petitions UN for Arrest of Kabuga
- UBA to Invest SH360 Billion in Kenya
- Free Movement of People Too, Not Just Goods and Capital
- Judges Running Out of Money?
The Nation (Nairobi)
May 21, 2008
News Article By Sammy Kitula
Top seed Evelyn Otula is among the 70 semi-professional tennis players who will battle for a cash prize of $4,500 (Sh279,000) in the International Tennis Federation CAT Money Circuit that starts at Nairobi Club Thursday.
Otula won the first leg held in Ethiopia last week.
Otula has had a good year so far, which has seen her bag seven titles in five months.
"I know there will be stiff competition from other players, especially from foreign countries, but that will not deter me," she said.
Born in 1974 in Kakamega, Otula has been highly visible on the local tennis circuit.
The Kenyatta University graduate was a member the team that won Kenya its first ever Fed Cup tie in Turkey.
She has played for the country a record five times at the Euro/Africa Group Four Fed Cup, having been to Spain (1999), Portugal (2000), Turkey (2001 and 2005) and Malta (2004).
Her victory last week was her seventh in five months.
She won Burundi, Rwanda and Uganda Money Circuits as well as clinching the annual Uganda and Kenya Open tournaments.
"My dream for Kenyan tennis is to produce at least 12 players who will be world ranked in the next seven years. I know that this is an achievable task," said Otula.
"What we need is funds for the development of coaches," she said.
She said local tennis had failed to match international standards because most players used it to further their personal lives.
"Most players disappear from tennis once they land scholarships abroad, and this affects our capacity in the sport," she said.
Other top players expected at the championship include Francis Rogoi and Allan Cooper, who could not take part in the first leg because of personal commitments.
Players from Zimbabwe, Uganda, Rwanda and Ethiopia will also feature.
Paul Gassigwa, the winner of the last circuit held in March will face his fiercest rival, Martin Dzuwa.
Top seed Genius Chidzikwe of Zimbabwe has also shown interest in the tournament, while Rossette Musoke of Uganda will renew her rivalry with Otula.
The prestigious tournament has a hefty prize money of $4500 (Sh279,000) with the winners getting $800 (Sh49,600) and $600 (Sh37,200) for men and women respectively.
