New kid on the block Oringa emerges from Mugabe shadow

Duncan Mugabe is the most decorated tennis player of this generation but this year was dominated by a previously little known youngster David Oringa.

For the last decade, the name Duncan Mugabe has stood out most in Ugandan tennis. But 2012 had a much different menu for the sport’s diehards with a new kid on block in David Oringa. Mugabe’s absence paved way for Oringa to bask in the limelight. Standing at 6ft 5inch, Oringa was sensational as his classic displays helped him lift the Castle Lite Uganda Tennis Open title back in June.

The 19-year-old saw off Rwanda’s Mathieus Uwizeyimana 7-5 6-4 in the final at the Lugogo Tennis Club on June 16. Oringa had earlier dismissed Rwanda’s number one and top seed, Jean Claude Gasigwa 5-7 6-2 7-5 in the quarter-finals to book a berth against fellow countryman and veteran Herbert Buyinza in the semi-finals. Oringa shocked Buyinza 7-5 6-3 to make his debut in the final.

Coincidentally on the same afternoon, the Uganda Cranes defeated Congo Brazzaville 4-0 at Namboole stadium to book a date with reigning Afcon winners Zambia in the next round of the botched Afcon 2013 campaign.

No Uspa nod
And that’s why he fell short of the Uspa journalists’ vote as he was beaten by coach Bobby Williamson’s troops to the body’s monthly sportsman gong. But his triumph was just enough to win him more fans.
The fact that Mugabe’s chance to feature in three International tournaments in Europe to determine if he could be granted a wildcard for the London Olympics didn’t materialise, winning the Uganda Open is what mattered most.

But that feat did not come on a silver platter. Immediately after his Senior Six examinations at Kololo SS, Oringa spent three months attending tennis lessons at the Sadili Academy in Nairobi. “I went to the academy and focused on my serve, forehand winners and movement,” he said.

After 90 days at Sadili, Oringa competed in the Kenya Open but in the first round . The towering youngster decided to return home and work on consistency. He was under the watchful eye of veteran John Oduke with a month to the Uganda Open.

And it was during the Uganda Open where he mastered the skills to challenge any type of player - thanks largely to the crowds that were always behind him. The youngster lost the final of the seventh Simba Cement Open International singles title to Zambia’s Edgar Kazembe 6-0 6-2 at the Dar es Salaam Gymkhana Club on September 18. But he had reason to smile as he walked away with $750 (an estimated Shs1.87m then) for his efforts in the singles and an additional $500 (about Shs1.25m) for winning the doubles title with his Zambia conqueror in the singles.

Wilderness journey
Nine days later, the Ugandan was ousted by eventual winner homeboy Jean Claude Gasigwa 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 in a three-hour duel during the quarterfinals of the Rwanda ITF/CAT Money Circuit at the Umbano Hotel Courts.
Gasigwa later defeated compatriot Dieudonne Habiyambere 4-6 6-3 and 6-3 to retain the title.
It was hard to blame Oringa for the loss as inconsistency, injuries (on his part) and lack of adequate funding affected his smooth transition.

He cancelled his trip to Lusaka for the Zambia Open and returned to Sadili Academy for a fortnight under the tutelage of coach Liz Odera as he prepared for his maiden senior International Tennis Federation (ITF) Men’s Futures Pro Circuits in Burundi and Rwanda.

First was Bujumbura. It was an unfamiliar stage for Oringa as he had to begin his quest for the international stardom in the qualifiers since he had no Wildcard to enter the Main Draw. Oringa made it to the last 32 of the singles after beating US’s Dustin Goldenberg in straight sets 6-3 7-5.

His ingrain zeal and driving force propelled him. But two days later, he was upset by Goldenberg’s country mate Michael-Ray Pallares-Gonzalez in the Main Draw. He was humbled in straight sets 6-2 6-1. With the aim to make amends, Oringa moved to Kigali for the second and third legs of the Futures circuits.He fell short again, this time round in the qualifiers. An injury on his right leg while playing Indian Rakshay Thakkar subjected him to a 6-4 4-6 6-2 loss on November 17.

First point
Oringa recovered in time for the third leg. He beat Swede William Edin 6-4 6-2 before eliminating homeboy Dieudonne Habiyambere 2-6 6-1 6-2 in the Main Draw. That victory meant Oringa had scored his first ITF point and was into the last eight.

But the next task was against seed four Italian Riccardo Sinicropi on November 28. Oringa, however, couldn’t do much as he went down 6-3 6-3. The year in general did not leave Oringa the same way he was 365 days earlier. And for him to emerge from Mugabe’s shadow is proof that 2013 could be momentous for the ace.

Despite a silent year, Mugabe remains this generation’s best. A couple of years ago, he became the first Ugandan to win the Kenya Open in 31 years and later won his first Uganda Open title. He also won bronze at the All Africa Games in Maputo, Mozambique.

editorial@ug.nationmedia.com