By Decide Nhendo
In a recently held Baobab Mini 2 Polokwane tennis tournament hosted by South Africa from April 12 to 14, Zimbabwean players significantly thrived, competing with counterparts from South Africa and Botswana.
From the tournament which had boys and girls under 12, 14 and boys under 16, the team bagged three gold medals, two silver, three bronze, with two players on position five and one on number seven.
For under 12 boys, Atipaishe Nyandoro and Anotidaishe Mbaura managed to scoop silver and bronze respectively, with girls Ropafadzo Muyedzenga and Mazviita Gava coming first and fifth in the same age group.
Jacob Paradza came third and Ruth Muzhuzha was on seventh place for under 14 boys and girls respectively.
Another gold medal was scooped in the under 16 category by Morgan Mkwanilla with Tatenda Debwe and Tawananyasha Musendekwa coming on number four and number five respectively.
On doubles tennis, Mkwanilla and Debwe scooped gold medals each while Musendekwa and Dube managed to receive silverware each.
The tournament had 180 participants from the host country South Africa, as well as Botswana and Zimbabwe.
Team coach Privy Fanisai said she was happy by the performance of the team despite the challenges they had, starting from training here at home, also sponsorship to go for the tournament.
“The team performed beyond our expectations, they did well under the circumstances we have here at home, we do not have enough time and adequate resources for training but we managed to throw a good fight,” said Fanisai.
She went on to thank the parents who funded for their kids to the tournament and schools like Ndarama High and Francis Aphiri Primary for sponsoring their learners as well as Masvingo Tennis Club for the support.
“I want to thank the parents who managed to sponsor their children to go for the tournament since some schools failed to sponsor their leaners. I also want to thank Ndarama High and Francis Aphiri for funding their learners and I urge other schools to emulate that,” said Fanisai.
She went on to appeal to the corporate world for training equipment and sportswear for the players, as well as the training courts since the one they use is paid for.
“We appeal to the corporate world for sportswear and equipment for training, we need rackets, balls, among other needs and we also need a free training tennis court since the ones we use are paid for and at times some fail to pay for the training fee and miss out,” she said.
