Easy for top seeds

By William Muwonge ZIMBABWEAN star Vusa Majola won a clash of contrasting styles as the Ugandan leg of the ITF/CAF East African circuit started yesterday. The second seed, who basically played serve and volley, beat unseeded Ugandan baseliner Herbert Nkugwa 6-1, 6-2 under sweltering temperatures at Kampala Club. Majola needed 55 minutes to advance to the second round of the men's singles event. Seven other seeded players joined Majola, winner of the Nairobi leg held last week. The Dar-es-Salaam leg opened the regional circuit. Players from Zimbabwe, Rwanda, Kenya and hosts Uganda are competing in the five-day show that ends on Sunday. But one of the event's top names Herbert Buyinza, a Ugandan-turned-Rwandan, failed to turn up. The Rwandan delegation gave conflicting reasons for his absence. Zimbabwean and Kenyan players made a flying start. Uganda pushed seven out of 17 players to the second round while Rwanda had three out of eight marching on. Godfrey Uzunga beat Rwanda's Claude Gasigwa 6-3, 2-6, 6-1 to lead Uganda's qualifiers. Leading results: Men's singles-V. Majola (Zim) bt H. Nkugwa (Uga) 6-1, 6-2; G. Tongoona (Zim) bt C. Mutebi (Uga) 6-3, 6-2; G. Uzunga (Uga) bt C. Gasigwa (Rwa) 6-3, 2-6, 6-1; P. Olobo (Uga) bt V. Munyemana (Rwa) 7-5, 6-1; N. Oduor (Ken) bt J. Odongo (Uga) 6-1, 6-1. Women's singles: J. Magona (Uga) bt M. Khamala (Ken) 6-1, 6-2; C. Lukalo (Ken) bt R. Kuusa (Ken) 5-7, 6-3, 6-0; W. Mbugua (Ken) bt C. Kabasiita (Rwa) 6-1, 6-3. Ends