Byo Tennis Board happy with 2011 achievements

by financial constraints.
BMTB chairman Adam Joelson said they had achieved a lot in terms of developing the sport from junior to senior level.
“We took part in a number of competitions in the junior category and also managed to come up with a league for the seniors which was very successful,” he said.
The seniors competed in the GC Centre League which saw 25 players taking part.
Joelson said they also managed to get $800 sponsorship for their awards for the League although he would not say who sponsored them. Joelson said despite the financial problems that they faced they managed to secure equipment to donate to other areas. He said the equipment was part of their development drive.
“We were impressed by the competition that we saw in the league. We also managed to spread the sport to western suburbs and donated equipment to Luveve High School and Mthombowesizwe Primary School,” he said.
The board donated 10 racquets and 30 balls although the value of the equipment was not stated.
He said they were also happy that they were given the opportunity to play host to the ITF Wheelchair Tennis Tournament.
“For us it was a great achievement. We are happy that we were given the opportunity to hold an international competition here,” he said.
Joelson said the juniors did well this season having won gold in the girls category and silver in the boys at the Zimbabwe National Youth Games in August. “A number of our juniors made an impact this year. We took part in all the competitions that were held in the country this year. Some of the competitions that we took part in include the Bulawayo Open, Manicaland Open, Harare Open, Zimbabwe Closed, Tarryn-Leigh De Souza Tournament, Midlands Open and the Youth Games,” he said.
The BMTB boss said from the Under-10 to the Under-18 category they had a number of top achievers and they were hoping they would continue working hard next season.
Some of the players that played well include Zandile Mguni, Thabisile Dube, Lynette Phiri, Nicholas Barrow and Collin Ndebele in the Under-10 category.
In the Under-12s there was Tanya Magunje who is ranked number one in the country in that category, Nicole Chigwada, Renita Zulu, Tanaka Chabata, Bongani and Muzi Sibanda.
Bulawayo was represented by Nikita Daka, Lezinhle Sibanda, Francine Nkomo, Hillary Ncube, Ngqabutho Mazwezwe in the Under-14 category.
In the Under-16s there was Nicole Dumbuchena, Nqobani Moyo, Vongai Sigauke, Nigel Ncube, Freelander Kadzombe, Tinashe Kondo and Chris Sibanda.
Thembela Ndlovu, Tafadzwa Mawisire, Natasha Mandewo, Bukhali Makombwa, Bryn Langley, Ronald Munzwengwa and Keletso Malane were in the Under-18s.
“We did well as a province and we are happy with what the juniors achieved. We hope that come next season they will continue doing well,” he said.
Bulawayo has produced a number of top tennis players in the past such as Fadzai Mawisire, Vimbai Mawisire, Fadzai Madzimbamuto, Mbonisi Ndimande and Robyn Williams.