Rwanda national junior team head coach, Jean Pierre Nshimiyimana has called for more support towards tennis development following the national teams’ mediocre campaign at the 39th edition of the ITF/CAT Africa Junior Championship that ended on Friday in Pretoria, South Africa.

The team which returned to the country on Friday evening aboard RwandAir express comprised of six players; three boys and three girls, that competed  in two categories namely; 16 & under and 14 & under, however none made it to the second round of the two week annual tournament.

Rwandan team faced early exit after all the players were eliminated in the first round with Joseph Kiiza, who was vying for honors in the boy’s 14 & under category recording the best ranking of 19th out 32 while others were in the far bottom positions.

"Well my players tried their level best because all of them were debuting in this particular very strong competition which attracted over twenty countries that are better in the sport; our greatest lesson is that we still have a long way to go.

However, we can make it if we are given a backup,” said Nshimiyimana said in an interview with Times Sport on Saturday

The boys’ team included; Fabrice Tuyishime and Brian Ndahiro, who competed in the 16 & under category while Joseph Kiiza, vied for honors in the 14 & under.

In the girls’ fray, the country was represented by Chantal Mutuyimana and Clenia Niyonshima (16 & under) with Grace Gisubizo Ndahunga competing in the 14 & under category.

editorial@newtimes.co.rw