The National tennis team returned home yesterday empty-handed after a less than convincing performance during the ITF Junior African tennis Championship that was held in Tunisia from March 11 to 21.

Only 15-year old youngster Ernest Habiyambere who was competing in the boys’ U-16 category managed to survive the first-round and went on to reach the quarter-finals before bowing out at hands of a Tunisian.

However, the skillful Habiyambere won two classification matches to finish fifth at the ten-day African championships.

The team also included Fabrice Tuyishime (U-16), Chantal Mutuyimana (U-16), Flavia Kayitesi (U-16) and Evelyn Kwizera, in the U-14 category.

Why the poor performance?

Talking to Times Sport in a telephone interview yesterday, the National Tennis Coach Jean Pierre Nshimiyimana admitted there is a lot to do for Rwandans to perform well in continental competitions.

"We still have a very long way to go, the way we prepare for such huge competitions is not good enough. There is need for tennis academies, more tennis coaches and a lot of tournaments so that players can earn experience and maturity on the court,” Nshimiyimana said. Nshimiyimana also highlighted financial burden as another obstacle arguing that in countries like Morocco, Egypt and South Africa, where tennis is more advanced, parents are able to invest in their children which is not the case in Rwanda.

"Most schools don’t have tennis equipment so students in boarding schools can only play during holiday, which is not good enough.”