THREE Tanzanian wheelchair tennis players will travel to South Africa on Thursday to participate in a one-week training camp and tournament, the national wheelchair tennis team’s coach, Riziki Salum, has announced.

The players - Monica Boniface, Omari Tumbo, and Aidani Edgar - will be accompanied by Salumu, who will oversee their preparations. 

According to Salum, the camp will help the players enhance their skills by learning modern techniques of the game.

“Our three players will leave on Thursday, September 19, for South Africa to join players from across Africa in the camp. After the camp, which ends on September 23, they will participate in a tournament from September 23 to 25. The competition will select ten players to represent Africa at the World Wheelchair Tennis Championship in France next year,” Salum said.

In other news, Salum confirmed that Rehema Suleiman, who traveled to Poland on Wednesday, has arrived safely and is preparing to compete in the VI Plock Cup. The tournament will run from Monday to Thursday next week.

Despite facing challenges, Tanzanian wheelchair tennis players have continued to perform well in international competitions. 

Earlier this year, Novatus Temba and Hamisi Juma, along with coach Salum, represented Tanzania in the BNP Paribas World Team Cup qualifiers in Portugal, held at Vilamoura Tennis Academy from May 10 to 16. 

The players were sponsored by BQ, which covered all expenses, while the International Tennis Federation (ITF) provided Salum's airfare.

The BNP Paribas World Team Cup is the ITF's flagship wheelchair tennis competition, where national teams qualify through zonal tournaments. The 2024 edition of the tournament will take place at the Olbia Sport Centre Geovillage in Sardinia, Italy, from October 4 to 10.

Salum expressed optimism about the future of wheelchair tennis in Tanzania, noting that despite the obstacles, the team continues to represent the country with distinction on the global stage.