Manicaland retain title

By Mbachi Mutukula-Maregere
MANICALAND has retained the junior inter-provincial tennis title after dismissing hosts Harare 4-0 in the finals of this year’s tournament held over the weekend at Harare Sports Club.
The three-day event attracted several school-going players with Harare, Manicaland and Matabeleland fielding two teams in each of the three categories in the Under-15, Under-17 and Under-19.
Mashonaland West and Mashonaland East also fielded a team each in the different categories. Manicaland featured players like Innocent Mhere, Zibu Ndimande, Takudzwa Sachikonye and Jotham Majaya.
They beat the Harare A team of Golden Lindsay, Michael Shonhiwa, Alois Chinyoka and Munashe Chiri 4-0 in the boys’ Under-19 final.
Mhere beat Lindsay 6-2, 6-3 while Ndimande beat Shonhiwa 6-2, 6-3.
Sachikonye thrashed Chinyoka 6-1, 6-2 while Majaya beat Chiri 6-3, 6-4 to win the final.
The Manicaland Under-17 team also held their heads high when they dismissed Harare A 4-0.
Harare Province junior team chairman Anthony Fynn said they lost because their teams did not train enough.
“Harare teams did not train enough and they need to play more tournaments and get exposure.
“Manicaland practised well as they live and train together and sometimes they go to compete in a number of tournaments in South Africa, where the standard of play is high.
“What we need is to work on getting exposed in different competitions then we will be able to stand a good chance of winning next year,” said Fynn.
In the boys’ Under-15 section, Harare Province also suffered a 3-1 defeat to Manicaland.
Harare Province, however, took the second and third places while the fourth place went to Matabeleland A.
Mashonaland East took fifth position as Matabeleland B settled for sixth place while Mashonaland West came seventh.