adminand Stay in which they hope to tap into young talent from the tender age of five.
TZ administrations have in the past embraced various development programmes that mainly targeted teenage players, but the failure by the country’s flagship team — the Davis Cup side — to scale the heights reached by the Black brothers Byron and Wayne and Kevin Ullyett has impacted negatively on the domestic game.
Individuals such as veteran administrator and coach Albert Nhamoyebonde, through his Mufakose Tennis Agency have also weighed in by producing a number of players like Peter Nyamande and Martin Dzuwa who did well in their playing careers.
Some players like Genius Chidzikwe also horned their skills in Mutare where TZ president Anne Martin is now carrying on the flame by running an academy in that city.
Although the Davis Cup team is now a caricature of the side that grabbed world headlines when beating such giants like Australia and hosted the United States teams that had John McEnroe as non-playing captain and Andre Agassi as the number one player, the sport seems to be on the revival path, albeit on a slower pace.
But, to their credit TZ, who have also been severely hamstrung by lack of financial resources, have decided to widen their talent base in the hope of unearthing another Cara Black or boys who could grow to become the next Byron, Wayne, Chidzikwe, Dzuwa or the future Ullyett.
TZ have introduced a Play and Stay programme for children under the age of 10 as recommended by International Tennis Federation.
The programme ran concurrently with the New Winners Junior tournament that was staged at Harare Sports Club from January 3-9.
While focus and much of the attention during the four days of competition may have been on the older boys and girls in the New Winners tournament at Harare Sports Club, in which one of the top local players Ronzai Saurombe won the Boys Under-18 title, 36 enthusiastic kids were learning the ropes in the Play and Stay event at nearby Alex Sports Club.
All the kids in the Play and Stay competition, the first ever event to be introduced by the ITF here were below the age of 10 and the project was successfully held in three categories under Red, Orange and the Green ball.
After three days of exciting tennis by the kids such players like Robin Tapfumaneyi, who won in the Red Ball category for the girls, and Atonida Masvosve in the boys’ category, went home happier.
It was a similar tale in the Orange ball category that was won by Deborah Mhiza for the girls. There were, however, no boys in the Orange ball section.
Claire Machisa for the girls and Oncemore Murecherewa in the Boys category won the senior group, which is due to play a normal yellow ball from green ball.
The Play and Stay game in Zimbabwe came about following the ITF rules that govern lawn tennis, which advised all affiliates that with effect from 2012, the 10 and under competition should be played using slower red, orange and green balls for kids from the age of five years and upwards.
The programme was officially launched by the ITF in 2007 and is targeted at increasing tennis participation worldwide.
Before independence, local tennis used to have an almost similar event that was bankrolled by the Bata Tennis Foundation in the late 1970s.
That programme was known as Tenniset, but it somehow slowly disappeared from the radar in the ’80s although some of the mini tennis courts that were used are still noticeable at some playing grounds such as at Mufakose area E and at Mai Musodzi in Mbare. According to one of the long serving local coaches Shepherd Murape, that version of the game is enjoyable to the kids.
Murape, brother to the late former Zimbabwe coach Claudio, has been in the trenches for a long time having started his coaching career in 1983.
Murape said the programme was designed to ensure a smooth introduction to tennis to the kids while they are still at a tender age.
“The essence of Play and Stay tennis is to introduce tennis and its background smoothly to kids from the age of five and contribute to their future playing days.
“The concept introduces many fun-filled hours of playing exciting game of tennis. Kids learn the game very quickly as it is enjoyable and easier to adapt.
“Kids are firstly introduced to the game of tennis with a slow red ball. The slow ball moves slower thereby enabling kids to move to the ball timeously and hit it nicely.
“They are then promoted to play orange ball which is also slower, but faster than the red ball. After that they are introduced to green ball which technically prepares them to play the normal ball which is the yellow ball.
“Many young players tend to find it difficult to play competitive tennis at the age of 14 years due to lack of adequate preparatory concepts when they were still under the age of 10,’’ Murape said.
Online Reporter