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THE inaugural Dumiso Khumalo Memorial Tennis Tournament was held at Emakhandeni last weekend raising hopes for the revival of the sport in the western suburbs of Bulawayo.
Emakhandeni Tennis Club used to be the catchment area for tennis in the western areas, bringing what was then viewed as an elite sport to previously marginalised areas.
Tennis is still seen as a sport for the rich with more players emerging from the low-density suburbs while few have come from high-density areas of the city, a development that has not been helped by lack of infrastructure in these areas.
However, the construction of tennis courts in Emakhandeni and a clear development programme by Tennis Zimbabwe saw Aaron Mpofu produce several stars that went on to either play for the country or land scholarships abroad.
Players such as Noel Wadawu, the late Khumalo, Gloria Mpala, Fadzai Madzimbamuto and Matthew Gumbo, were all Mpofu’s products who went on to hold their own against the best there was in the country.
The Centre for Tennis Excellence organised tourney was meant to bring back action to Emakhandeni and attracted 55 junior players.
The competition, which ran from 27 June to 29 June, was affected by the schools exit weekend and a points tournament that was held on the same days in Harare.
One of the organisers of the tourney, Tendai Sibanda said they would be applying to TZ to stage the tournament annually and also award points so that it attracts more competitors.
In an interview on the sidelines of the tournament finals at Emakhandeni Tennis Courts, Sibanda said the tourney was held in honour of Khumalo, a player who had a passion for grooming young players.
“I worked closely with Khumalo before he passed on and he had a great vision for the growth of tennis particularly incorporating players from the western suburbs, where he cut his teeth in the sport. He was immensely talented and did not want to see the sport die.
“We are simply carrying out his wishes and will ensure this tournament is where future tennis champions emerge,” said Sibanda.
The initial stages of the tournament were held at Girls College, Old Miltonians and Country Club with Emakhandeni deservedly hosting the finals.
Sibanda revealed that the Centre for Tennis Excellence had been running on a programme that was crafted by Khumalo before his passing on.
He said they had managed to produce top players through the laid down training regime and emerging stars included Muzingaye Sibanda, who is attached to the ITF High Performance Centre in South Africa, Mehluli Sibanda, Mzwandile Luphahla, Ethan Sibanda and seven-year-old Mengezi Sibanda a promising player in the under-10 category.
“I have never played tennis personally and my interest in the sport was aroused by Khumalo who had detailed plans of setting up an academy and I agreed to work with him because it was a noble initiative.
“I am certain that had he been around and running the centre himself, the results would be more phenomenal and better than what we are producing although there are tangible results that we are coming up with to date,” said Sibanda, the centre’s director.
Bulawayo Metropolitan Tennis Board chairman Zeb Mawisire said they welcomed the hosting of more tennis events as they contributed to the continual development of players.
“It is good to see more events on the calendar and we still want more tournaments because players get better with more game time and more competition.
“Emakhandeni used to produce champions who would compete with the best and dominate the scene. I am sure there is a huge potential of having star players emerging from the high-density areas,” said Mawisire.
Another local coach, Adam Joelson said the tournament was a noble initiative and concurred with Mawisire that there was a need for more tournaments.
“We have always advocated for the sport to be spread across all areas as it has been focused in the low-density areas but we know there is huge talent lying untapped in the western areas as shown by the years when Emakhandeni Tennis Club was thriving and producing competent players.
“I think with more tennis activity in the high density areas, we can arouse interest in young players and hopefully produce more champions,” he said.
Sibanda said while they had the vision of producing champions it was difficult selling Khumalo’s vision — that of producing star players. He said the vision was marketable and expressed hope they could find backers in the near future.
Tournament results
Boys’ Under-10 red ball runner-up Makanaka Whata, winner Philip Madamombe
Boys’ Under-10 orange ball runner-up Nzwida Mpofu, winner Leeroy Moyo.
Boys’ Under-10 green ball 2nd runner-up Joseph Magutshwa, 1st runner-up, Atupele Phiri, winner Mengezi Sibanda.
Girls’ Under-10 red ball 2nd runner-up, Kiesha Chidyagwai, 1st runner-up, Yvonne Mahachi, winner, Ruvarashe Kuzanga.
Girls’ Under-10 orange ball 2nd runner-up Alondra Gandiwa, 1st runner-up, Pinky Dube, winner Channette Sibanda.
Girls’ Under-12 2nd runner-up Nicole Madamombe, 1st runner-up, Sarah Zhou, 1st, Nicole Matukutire.
Boys’ Under-12 2nd runner-up Owen Chitiyo, 1st runner-up, Bukhosi Moyo, winner Lyle Zaloumis.
Boys’ Under-14 2nd runner-up Phiwo Moyo, 1st runner-up, Mzwandile Luphahla, winner, Ethan Sibanda.
Boys Under-16/18 2nd runner-up, Tinashe Whata, 1st runner-up, Friedlander Kadzombe, winner, Chriswell Sibanda.
Girls’ Under-16/18 2nd runner-up Zandile Mguni, 1st runner-up, Takudzwa Mawisire, winner, Thabisile Dube.
Online Reporter