NTA prepares for Region 5 Youth Games

Tennis
Mariud Ngula
  • 4 Days Ago 24 February 2025
The Namibia Tennis Association (NTA) officially kicked off training last Thursday at Olympia’s Sport Klub Windhoek (SKW) for its young team which will compete in the African Union Sports Council (AUSC) Region 5 Youth Games scheduled to take place in Windhoek this July.

To prevent their competitors from gaining an advantage, NTA has withheld the names of the players who will participate in the Youth Games.

Speaking to this publication during Friday’s practice session, AUSC Region 5 Youth Games tennis convener and NTA director Jandre Bezuidenhout said the youngsters are being coached by former national tennis player Johan Theron and top-ranked Namibian player Elias Shikongo.

“We are very excited for the Youth Games. I believe all participating countries will witness the strength and experience of our team. This is the first Region 5 tournament for many of these players, as they are still quite young. This competition will be a great stepping stone for their future in tennis,” he said.



Future stars

Bezuidenhout expressed gratitude to parents and volunteers for their dedication, acknowledging their selflessness in supporting the players’ training sessions under the scorching sun and contributing to the development of the next generation of the country’s tennis stars.

He hopes to get the entire team involved in international matches leading up to the Youth Games.

“As we speak, Johan Theron junior is in Kenya competing in the African Junior Championships, while our boys’ team captain Ruben Yssel is in Potchefstroom, South Africa, competing in the ITF World Under-18 Tournament,” he said.

Additionally, the NTA is planning a tournament in Botswana this July to give the players more international exposure.

Bezuidenhout also called on the commercial sector to assist with sponsorships, which would help the players compete at a higher level. “The effort we put in now will determine our future success. Let’s work together to build a Namibian tennis team that no one will want to face,” he said.

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