Arusha Ball Boys Show Their Tennis Prowess in Dar
by lute wa lutengano
One blue Monday some two weeks ago I was visited at my office by three young
boys whom I know as ball boys of the AICC Kijenge Tennis Club. Led by their
spokesperson, Mdee aka Magufuli they pleaded with me as to whether I could use
my influence to secure funds for them to proceed to Dar es Salaam to participate
in the Dar es Salaam Gymkhana Open Junior Tennis Tournament scheduled for 29th
and 30th May 2004.
I was not very enthusiastic in the project. First the days remaining to the
tournament were only five and secondly I was not very sure whether they could
perform to any sponsor's satisfaction.
However, two days later I received a call from a member of the East African
Legislative Assembly Dr. Harrison Mwakyembe saying he had been approached by
some young boys at the Kijenge Club who allegedly talked of his resemblance to
me. But it seems that was merely their opening shot; since they went on to
inform him of their pending Dar es Salaam project. He naturally gave them some
funds.
One day before the tournament was to open in Dar es Salaam the three boys
cornered me at one of my drinking joint, the same AICC Kijenge Club. They still
had not secured enough funds for the trip much as they had been given another
donation by Frank Lyatuu.
Perched at the counter of the Club, I felt it was high time me and my colleagues
who were seriously imbibing the frothy liquids from the several breweries in the
country and region took some action.
An impromptu Harambee or fundraising was organised and guess what? With the help
of Wazees Kitwika, Frank, Capt Lauwo, Mwamsojo, Mboya, Laizer and the Kijenge
Club itself, a total of Tshs 116,000/- was immediately collected. That was more
than enough for their sporting trip to Dar es Salaam.
You could see the immense joy in their faces as they promised to do all they
could to bring honour not only to their Club where they are ball boys, but also
to Arusha town and region.
I did not follow news about the tournament, but mid this week I met one of the
interested parties who said he had seen some of the boys from Kijenge Club
receiving medals for winning the singles and doubles in the under 18 years
tournament.
Surely a day later the three boys were at the door of my office with their two
medals. It so happens Boniface John faced a stiff competition bringing 30 boys
of under 18 years to reach the final where he was knocked off by Haruna from
Morogoro. He therefore won a medal. In the doubles it was all an
Arusha affair with Boniface and a colleague from the Arusha Gymkhana Club
Degrades Bernard winning the gold medal after beating Joseph and Onesmo also
from the Arusha Gymkhana Club.
The tournament brought more than 90 boys and girls from Arusha, Morogoro and Dar
es Salaam, but as you can see, all the top medals in the boys' category went to
our Arusha boys.
The three ball boys, Boniface John, Makufuli Mdee and Musa Juma have promised
better in forthcoming tournaments. However they do not have sponsors who can
assist them in this noble project.
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lutengano@hotmail.com
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