Ambassador Herbert Mtango made a call to the Tanzania Tennis Association (TTA) to organise more international competitions to uplift the standard of the game in the country.

The Ambassador addressed players and officials ahead of prize presentations ceremony of the Tanga Cement international tournament that ended over the weekend at the Dar es Salaam Gymkhana Club courts.

Ambassador Mtango said TTA should strive to raise the standard of tennis in the country for our players to excel above the rest in the region.

Rwandan player Jean Claude Gasigwa and Kenyan Caroline Uduor scooped $1,000 each after winning their singles final matches against Tanzanians Jonas Jacob and Rehema Athumani respectively.

The losing finalists were awarded $750 each.

The Ambassador reiterated the need for players to feature in tournaments more often as they gauge their skills against the foreigners.

Beside the TTA officials, he also turned the heat on players whom he wanted to practice hard if they are to excel in the tourneys to make a living.

He thanked Tanga Cement Company for backing the four-day tournament that also attracted players from Rwanda, Burundi, Zimbabwe and Kenya.

TTA chairman Denis Makoi said lack of funds cripples his association in staging high profile tournament, like the just ended.

Makoi pressed for corporate sponsorship to support tennis development in the country, noting an abundance of playing talents.

The men’s doubles event was won by Gasigwa who partnered with Kenya’s Rogoi, who beat the pair of Jacob and Hilary Nyakabau.

Ladies doubles’ winners were Kenyan duo of Uduor and Veronica Osogo who trounced Rehema Athuman and Maria Godson to pocket $500 and $300 respectively.