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Nkosilathi Sibanda, Online Reporter
ON any given Sunday, just after breakfast, Emakhandeni Sports Grounds become a hive of activity.
As the groundsmen put up the nets on the football goalposts, players from different teams gather for a pre-match talk.
Nearby, something draws interest to Emakhandeni Tennis Club courts. Groups of young players, from the ages of 10 to 17 take turns on the racquet and ball. These school going children come from Emakhandeni suburb and nearby areas. There are some who travel from as far as Pumula, Nkulumane, Emganwini and Cowdray Park.
Under the tutelage of renowned development coach Witness Jiyane, the young players are and all bubbly and agile, as they work it out. It has been the norm every other Sunday, that children who play tennis and others with interest come for training sessions.
Jiyane is credited among those who helped bring back sporting activity at Emakhandeni Tennis Club in 2014.
Before that, for a long time, the city council-owned tennis courts were not being used. The courts developed cracks, nets were worn out and the boundary fence ripped off by vandals.
Players faced hurdles in having to do proper training at the facility and Emakhandeni Tennis Club almost folded. The worst affected were budding players whose future in tennis was doomed.
Jiyane had to use his personal funds to bring back the club in the midst of ruin after the Zimbabwe National Roads Agency (Zinara) had refurbished the courts in preparation for the 2014 AUSC Youth Games.
Now, years down the line, the club has transformed into one of the country’s best tennis talent identification and grooming centres.
There are players that have been fortunate to get scholarships at universities and colleges overseas.
This has been a trend Emakhandeni Tennis Club has long been associated with, since its early days when it was known as Emakhandeni Lawn Tennis Club.
As many of the club’s protégés have set sail to the United States, Spain, Canada and others settled in South Africa, Botswana and Namibia.
Emakhandeni Tennis Club’s hall of fame is exhaustive.
Its list includes the late Dumiso Khumalo, who at one time was ranked highly in the International Tennis Federation (ITF) players standings.
Khumalo plied his trade in Spain at a young age, before he returned home to take on coaching programmes.
Others were Fadzai Madzimbamuto, Gloria Mpala, Noel Wadawu, Matthew Gumbo and Nqobilizwe Bhebhe.
In an interview, Jiyane said exploits of the yesteryear greats from the stable have been replicated by the present generation of young players.
“We aim to be a club to reckon with, in as far as tennis grooming is concerned. That is why we would want our players to shine at a young age and expose their potential on the world stage,” said Jiyane.
One of Emakhandeni Tennis Club players, 19-year-old Zamani Moyo secured a scholarship at Howard University in the US.
But, what excites Jiyane more is their partnership with sponsors abroad who have helped the club with an assortment of sundries needed by players.
He singled out Tennis Aid, an organisation based in Spain.
“We remain indebted and send our gratitude to Tennis Aid in Spain who have increased their assistance to us in terms of equipment and clothing .The man behind it is Martin Rocco,” said Jiyane.
He revealed they have also got assistance from Qoki Zindlovukazi and other well-wishers.
Jiyane said their latest achievement was incorporating Charleston Trust Private School, an education institution in the city.
“The performance of our local players has improved. We have nine-year-old Sibusiso Sibanda who got a scholarship at Charleston Trust Private school, Adrian Muzire and Isaac Nyoni represented Zimbabwe last year for the first time in the under 12 and 14 age groups.
“The Emakhandeni Tennis Development Programme is doing well at Charleston Trust Private School. Newton Private School is also under our tennis development programme and has seen several players getting medals during the club’s tournaments.
Jiyane said they were proud of their players who include Lethokuhle Nyathi, Mbongeni Sibanda, Lethukuthula Nyathi and Sibusiso Sibanda all from Emakhandeni Tennis Club, Lwandile Sikhosana, Mzwakhe Mpabanga (Charleston Trust Private School) and Courage Ndlovu (Tomasik Tennis Foundation).
Given the immense training programme initiated by Jiyane, young tennis stars are expected to shine brighter in the future. For Jiyane, his dream is to continue providing the platform.
“We foresee a bright future for these kids. What we want is for them to play at the bigger stage and realise their tennis dreams,” said Jiyane.
Online Reporter