Omanyala Tennis 10s lives up to billing, sets up bright future

Curtains on the third edition of the Omanyala Tennis 10s rolled down on Saturday, 28 September at the Nairobi Club.

The event was organized by the fastest man in Africa; Ferdinand Omanyala, in collaboration with Tennis Kenya. The event attracted over 200 kids as organisers aimed at inspiring young players while creating a positive space for tennis development in the country.

Despite the challenge of the rain, the tournament was hailed as a success. The youngsters had a well-rounded experience. The event incorporated physical exercise, and the kids also got a chance to unwind and have fun by dancing together.

Speaking after the event, Tennis Kenya Secretary General Wanjiru Mbugua was glad that this year’s edition attracted more kids than the previous. Mbugua also hailed the significance of the initiative in expanding tennis opportunities for the kids.

"The tournament has been extremely successful, apart from the rain. The kids have enjoyed themselves. They were given an opportunity to compete in an environment that we, as Tennis Kenya, like to create. We are grateful to Omanyala for sponsoring this event," Mbugua said.

Mbugua further noted that Omanyala’s hands-on involvement in the tournament added a unique charm to the event. She described how heartwarming it was to see the kids light up around the celebrated sprinter, who not only sponsored the tournament but actively engaged with the children by taking photos and signing shirts.

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“This year, we had a massive turnout of kids. Working with Omanyala has been amazing. He not only sponsors the event but gives all of himself. Taking photos with the kids, and signing their shirts- that made it a special day. The kids, knowing this, turned up in large numbers,” she revealed.

On his side, Omanyala emphasized his desire to nurture talent not just in tennis but across various sports disciplines. He praised Tennis Kenya for their collaboration and expressed his ambition to expand his efforts to other sports.

"The motivation behind this is to nurture talents, not just in tennis alone but also in other sports. The federation has been so good and easy to work with. I hope others will open their doors as well," Omanyala shared.

He also hinted at future projects in athletics, stating, "What I want to do with athletics is big, and big things take time. Next year, it will be bigger and better."

Adding to the excitement, several celebrities joined the event and played matches with the winners of different categories, making the day even more special for the young players.