Nairobi ITF-circuit winner in narrow escape

By Douglas Mazune TOP seed Jose Neganga of Angola yesterday had to sweat for three hours to sail past South African Joste Cobus in the International Tennis Federation East African circuit at Lugogo courts. Neganga, who won the Kenyan leg of the competition, fought out a 7-6 (4), 6-4 win to get to the third round. Sudanese seed nine Elsadiq Wael edged Nigerian Candy Adoko (seed eight) 6-2, 3-6, 7-6 (5) in a highly contested match. In the girls’ first round, Ugandans Jalia Nanfuka and Sandra Kasumba defeated their compatriots Hajarah Nantende and Rhoda Murungi respectively to storm the second round. Kasumba overcame a second set scare to win 6-0, 1-6, 6-0 before a small home crowd. Murungi, who seemed to have taken charge of the match in the second set, collapsed in the decider — where she won no game while Nanfuka saw off Nantende in straight sets. South African seed one Lizaam Duplesis who got a first round bye ran over Kante Fatim from Seychelles 6-1, 6-0 to become the first person in the quarterfinals. The two had byes. Results: Girls first round; A.Mona (Sudan) bt Natembo (Uganda) 6-0, 6-0 C. Sandra (England) bt Amina.A (Tanzania) 6-0,6-0 S. Kasumba (Uga) bt R. Murungi (Uga) 6-1,1-6, 6-0 C. Oduor (Ken) bt Nanziri. H (Uga) 6-0, 6-0 W. Samantha (Eng) bt Kante Z. (Sey) 6-2, 6-3 J. Nanfuka (Uga) bt H. Nantenda (Uga) 6-3, 6-1 Second round: Duplesis L. (RSA) bt Kante F. (Sey) 6-1, 6-0 Boys: Second round; Elsadiq (Sud) bt Adoko C. (Nigeria) 6-2, 3-6, 7-6 (5) Borbas P. (Australia) bt Hegenimana (Rwa) 6-0, 6-0 Miott .A. (Eng) bt Phutego K. (Botswana) 6-2, 6-4 Neganga J. (Angola) bt J. Cobus (RSA) 7-6 (4), 6-4 ends