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Ngqwele Dube, Sports Correspondent
THE revival of Emakhandeni Tennis Club received a boost last week when former players donated 14 racquets and a net.
South African-based Mgcini Ndlovu donated 11 racquets and a net while United Kingdom-based Roy Chirinda came in with three racquets.
The club has been facing challenges in terms of equipment as many of their juniors cannot afford their own racquets.
One of the coaches that have been spearheading the renewal of the club, Witness Jiyane said the donation will go a long way towards improving their play and attracting more youngsters to the courts.
He said while they have been driven by passion for the sport, lack of finances to fulfill their dreams has been a major throwback.
“We really needed the net because the ones we had were torn and it was just difficult using them. We are grateful for the efforts being made by the former players,” he said.
Ndlovu, who handed over three racquets to the club last year, said he will continue sourcing material for the club that introduced him to tennis.
“I would like to see more youngsters coming up from this club because it gave me a life in tennis and I know it can make a difference in many children’s lives. It is serving an area with little tennis activity so I feel efforts should be made to ensure it does not die,” he said.
The club’s resuscitation began in 2015 following the hosting of the African Union Sports Council Region Five U20 Youth Games which saw the courts being resurfaced by Zinara.
The club that produced the likes of Noel Wadawu, the late Dumiso Khumalo, Gloria Mpala, Fadzai Madzimbamuto and Matthew Gumbo has fished another potential gem, 10 year old, Zamani Moyo who has been holding his own in the local junior circuit showing a lot of promise with his play.
Bongani Ndlovu