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Nhlanhla Mbele
EMAKHANDENI tennis club has received donations from Universal Tennis Academy (UTA) a United States of America (USA) based organisation for the second time in a bid to nurture talent in the western suburbs, B-Metro Sport has learnt.
The club received three drums of tennis equipment, comprising shoes, clothes, strings and racquets and Emakhandeni Tennis Club chairman Witness Jiyane said the aid would go a long way in changing the lives of children not only in Matabeleland but in Zimbabwe at large.
“Credit goes to Noel Wadawu, a former tennis player of Emakhandeni tennis club, who is the director of UTA. Our goals are made possible by such organisations who are always willing to give a hand since most of our players come from disadvantaged backgrounds.
“The contributions in the past have been used for rewarding players who excel, during the Africa Day and Emakhandeni Open Tournament and others have also been used to develop tennis in Esigodini, Sacred Heart, Victoria Falls, Thekwane High School, Gwanda Tennis Academy and most schools in Bulawayo,” said Jiyane.
Jiyane said they had a project that Bulawayo Tennis had failed to endorse since 2016 which had resulted in some of the players, coaches and scouts deserting the giant sporting structure.
“The delay by Bulawayo Tennis is stifling development in Emakhandeni. Civil Africa wanted to sponsor our project by paying coaches, but they ended up pulling out. UTA is the only organisation which approved the Emakhandeni Tennis Project hence donating to the club for the second time,” Jiyane said.
Spain Tennis Aid is one of the organisations that have also given aid to the club in recent years in terms of equipment.
Last year, Qokizindlovukazi Organisation donated US$175 toward the tennis tournament trip which was held in Harare from 16-19 December.
The players did not disappoint as they managed to scoop four gold, one silver and one bronze medal in the tournament.
Online Reporter