adminBlessing Rwizi
MANTAS Academy director of coaching, Freeman Nyamunokora, guided Mantas Academy tennis team to victory and brought home a number of prizes from the National Junior Tennis Tournament held in Harare last week.The Astra Paints sponsored annual event was held in Highlands from September 1 to 2. Different age groups took part in this year’s edition namely Under-10s, 12s, 14s, 16s and 18s respectively.
The team was made up of players from Chancellor and Mutare Junior schools, Mutare Girls’ High School and other individuals based in both Manicaland and Mashonaland.
It was also accompanied by assistant director of coaching, George Dzinoreva. Mantas’ Under-12 boys had a superb performance and managed to reach the finals with Denzel Seecso and Anotida Matiza winning the first and second positions in the singles respectively.
Chancellor Junior School’s Kudakwashe Ndiringepi and Tendai Chihowa also came first in the Under-10 Orange and Green ball games.
Aneti Mutumba from Mutare Girls’ High School also won the U-14 girls game, while Anesu Kwirirayi from Chancellor scooped the boys’ first position.
The Under-16 and 18 age groups were combined, but Panashe Gara lost in the semi-finals. The winners walked away with different prizes which included T-shirts and caps among others.
In an interview with Nyamunokora, he said the players did very well this year as compared to last year.
“The team’s performance this year was very outstanding and they did the Academy very proud. The Under-12 boys were so amazing and their chances of becoming the future world champions are very high,” said Nyamunokora.
In a separate interview with one of the female players, Aneti Mutumba, she said: “It was quite an experience and despite being the winners, we also learnt a lot from the teams we met at the national competitions.
“We have no doubt that we will make it next year because we are not going to relax. We will train even harder than before,” she said.
Meanwhile, Mantas also had players who walked away with four gold medals from the U-18 tennis tournament that was played in Bulawayo last week.
The four young stars that are in the Zimbabwe national team made very brilliant displays of their talents against teams from all provinces in Zimbabwe and won different prizes and gold medals each.
The shining stars were Batsirayi Saurombe and Richard Ngwarirai who were playing for the boys, while Chengetai Moyana and Bervey Masiwe won first positions in the girls’ category.
Online Reporter