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Mehluli Sibanda, Senior Sports Reporter
THE Bulawayo squash community gathered at Suburbs Squash Club last Wednesday to celebrate the sport’s promising player, Ryan Gwidzima who is back home after seven months at Wycliffe College in the United Kingdom.
Suburbs Squash Club was the fitting venue for the function for it is where Gwidzima started playing the sport and it is also a place he calls home. It has been a magnificent few months for the 13-year old Gwidzima who won the Junior Sportsman of the Year as well as the Junior Sportsperson of the Year at last month’s Annual Sports Awards held in Harare. Gwidzima has since his move to the UK taken part in a number of Under-15 tournaments where he he has excelled.
Ryan’s father, Langton the man who happens to be the youngster’s coach and picked up the national awards in Harare got to the present the lad with his trophies at the function.
“I feel excited, it feels good, it was so exciting to see my family for the first time in seven months. Life in England has been good. I have learnt that it’s going to be hard,’’ Ryan said.
Squash Rackets Association of Zimbabwe chairman, Lucky Mlilo said they were proud of Gwidzima’s achievements which have also attracted attention to other parts of Africa. Mlilo is also the vice president of the Africa Squash Federation.
“If you look at the Squash Federation of Africa Facebook page, Ryan is always being featured, the Nigerians they are just happy about his achievements so it’s not only Zimbabwe but Africa, well done, keep it up,’’ Mlilo said.
Gwidzima returns to England on 26 April to finish his junior schooling and returns home in July. He is meant to start high school in September with his future stay at Wycliffe dependent on his sponsors finding the necessary funding.
Promise Ncube, the chairman of the Ryan Gwidzima Trust Fund said they require US$25 000 per annum for the youngster’s schooling at the prestigious Wycliffe College, which is home to some of the best junior squash players in England. Others behind the initiative to give the young Gwidzima a great chance of becoming a professional squash player are David Coltart, Trevor Williams and Michael Harvey.
@Mdawini_29
Online Reporter