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TEN Mantas Tennis Academy players will be hoping to snatch vital points that may improve their ranking when they partake in the qualifiers of the ITF Under 18 circuit starting tomorrow (Saturday) in Harare. With one leg lasting a week, the other two legs will also be played in Harare a week after the other. Players from Egypt, Mauritius, South Africa, Namibia, India, Portugal, United States of America, Spain, Italy, Botswana, Zambia, Lesotho, Malawi, Kenya, Burundi, Canada and Britain are in the country for the three legged tournament.
Interestingly for Mantas, Mutare Girls’ High pupil and top seed, Beverly Matsiwe is the only Zimbabwean who was drafted into the continent’s ITF team – a team with eight players from the whole of Africa
Apart from Beverly, the other nine Mantas players that will feature in the ITF Circuit in Harare are Alwin Mushonga, Ngoni Makambwa, Kerrenm Muswere, Sinfree Tizora, Richard Ngwartwi, Batsirai Sauromba, Panashe Gara, Rudo Mahachi and Nandi Munyulwa.
Mantas Tennis Academy director of coaching, Freeman Nyamunokora, confirmed that 10 Mantas Tennis Academy players will be taking part in the ITF Under-18 circuit.
“We will have 10 players taking part in the ITF Under-18 circuit in Harare. It is quite important for them because players get crucial points for ITF rankings.
“They have played three similar tournaments — one in Namibia and two in Botswana — hence is good for them that they get access to a third contest of such calibre. Currently we have Tadiwa Chinamo, a top seed in this tournament, ranked 344 on the ITF rankings, while Ngonidzashe Makambwa is 702,” said Nyamunokora.
Online Reporter