Chronicle Editor
Nkosilathi Sibanda
BULAWAYO tennis players and coaches are set to benefit immensely from the ongoing coaching clinics being conducted by a group of experts from United States -based Athletics in Action who are on a city-wide tour aimed at examining local skills.
Athletes In Action (AIA) is a sports arm of Campus Crusade for Christ International that seeks to witness and make Christ known by athletes all over the world. A contingent of 14 players and coaches started the coaching sessions from July 1 and are expected to conclude on July 12. So far, they have held sessions at Petra Junior and Senior Schools, S.O.S, Christian Brothers College, Charlestown School, Emakhandeni Tennis Club, Henry Low Primary School, Falcon College, Mthombowesizwe, Whitestone, Bulawayo Athletic Club and Matopos Farm.
The lead local coaches Zenzo Ndlovu told Zimpapers Sports Hub on Friday they had established good relations with Athletes In Action which will be of help in developing tennis in the city. “This is a Christian organisation based in the United States. They support any sport and we managed to pull out the tennis section to come and help our young players.
“So, they are reaching out to the kids given that athletes sometimes find it hard to get time for church so Athletes “In Action is sharing the Word of God through sport. “In the list of our visitors there are players from college and players from the United States. They are here to run coaching clinics which end at Bulawayo Athletic Club where we will have coaches, players and their parents.
“The group is led by Chad Simpson. He used to coach at university level. We have visited them in the United States and did an exchange programme with them as I took some players there in 2018. We had an opportunity to work with top coaches from that side,” said Ndlovu. One of the coaches based in Bulawayo, Adam Joelson said they have benefited a lot from the engagement with the US coaches.
“It has been a very successful coaching clinic in many ways. The kids benefited a lot.”The coaches were outstanding and superb as they shared the Word of God and knowledge on tennis in schools around the city. The visitors were welcomed well. “We really appreciate the work of Athletes In Action and what they have done so far. It has been beneficial especially to the kids and one could tell from their faces that they enjoyed,” said Joelson.
Emakhandeni Tennis Club director and coach Witness Jiyane said: “This is what our players want, to be exposed and know that tennis is a sport played globally. They learned a lot and so did our coaches. We have to use what we learned and display it in our training programmes going forward.” Athletes In Action country representative, Xavier Bwanya said the visitors mission was on developing the local game. “Our desire is to make Christ known while developing the sport of Tennis in Zimbabwe,” he said. — @NkosieLegend
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