adminleft for Namibia at the weekend to compete in the Africa Junior Championships Southern Zone in Namibia.
The competition, which is for Under-12, Under-14 and Under-16s and runs under the auspices of the International Tennis Federation, started on Monday and will end on 14 January.
Sibanda, a budding tennis star and defending Tarryn-Leigh De Souza Under-14 champion, is set to compete in the Under-14s category with Hwata representing the country in the Under-12.
The duo made it into the national team during selections which were conducted last month.
Adam Joelson, the Bulawayo Metropolitan Province Tennis Board chairman, said they were happy that the duo made it into the national team.
“We are very much happy that Mehluli (Sibanda) and Tinashe (Hwata) Chabata made it into the Zimbabwe junior national team. They have been doing well in local circuits and they deserve to be there. They are hard workers and I believe they will represent the country to the best of their abilities in Namibia,” said Joelson.
Sibanda and Hwata belong to Tendai Sibanda’s Tennis Centre based at Eveline High School.
Most of the players that are in the national team are from Harare and Mutare.
“In the past few years Harare and Mutare players have been dominating the national teams. Last year we had Tanaka Chabata from Bulawayo making it for the Africa Junior Championships Southern Zone in Namibia and now we have two players which is good for our tennis. I believe that their breaking into the national team will open more doors for other Bulawayo players.
“The development programmes that are being run at different centres around the city are good and it is only a matter of time before more of our players begin knocking on national team doors,” Joelson said.
Tennis Zimbabwe administrator Cliff Nhokwara said the travelling coaches for the Africa Junior Championships Southern Zone are Miracle Matanga and Lincent Chitiyo.
Squad
Under-12: (Boys) Tinashe Hwata, Valentine Munyawi (Girls) Anette Mutumba
Under-14: (Boys) Mehluli Sibanda and Batsirai Samombe (Girls) Kimberly Bhunu and Karen Machisa
Under-16: (Boys) Alwen Mushonga and Julius Mthethwa (Girls) Nicole Dzenga, Keren Muswere
Online Reporter