Chronicle EditorCollin Matiza Sports Editor
ZIMBABWE’S Julius Mashonganyika is now one of the most revered professional tennis coaches in the United States.
Mashonganyika (41), a product of Albert Nhamoyebonde’s Mufakose Tennis Coaching Agency in Zimbabwe, recently receivedanother feather in his already colourful tennis coaching cap when the United States Professional Tennis Association awarded him with a Level 1 Certificate of Achievement for earning 14 credits in the association’s 2014 Career Development Programme.
This came after Mashonganyika helped the USPTA maintain the industry’s highest standards for tennis-teaching professionals and in the process earn the credibility and respect of the entire tennis industry in the United States.
The USPTA is the world’s oldest and largest association of tennis-teaching professionals. Its purpose is to provide certification to members worldwide after they demonstrate ability in a variety of areas.
The association also offers continuing education opportunities for its members on topics such as tennis teaching and playing, training, sport science, tennis club management, and business and professional development.
USPTA chief executive John Embree recently said they were proud to recognise members who continue to improve their coaching skills, “and we commend Julius Mashonganyika for active involvement in career development”.
When contacted by The Herald yesterday, Mashonganyika also said from his base at Leesburg in Virginia, United States, he was proud of his latest achievement.
“As you are aware, I am both a certified tennis teaching professional with the United States Professional Tennis Association (USPTA) and the Professional Tennis Registry (PTR) International. Also I am a PTR Adult Development Professional, Junior Development Professional and High Performance Coach.
“My total credits since 2011 is 30,” Mashonganyika said.
The USPTA and PTR requires all certified members to earn 6 credits of continuing education in a three-year period (professionals 65 or older are exempt). To help them meet that goal, the USPTA provides hundreds of hours of education every year in the form of conferences, workshops, webinars, DVDs and more.
“On my education card, if you see APC Eligible 15, APC stands for Accredited Professional Coach and the APC is earned and retained through mandatory continuing education and is valuable not only to those who retain it, but also to employers, the public and the tennis teaching profession itself.
“It demonstrates a tennis teacher’s skills, sports science and business concepts. The APC designation also demonstrates a commitment to professional excellence.
“The skills acquired through mandatory education are applicable to all tennis industry areas,” said Mashonganyika, who was also awarded a certificate for his four years of service with the USPTA.
According to the USPTA chief executive, Embree, Mashonganyika has now successfully completed all requirements, including an extensive examination of teaching, playing and business skills, necessary for the rating of a professional tennis coach.
This makes him one of the most qualified professional tennis coaches both in the United States and his home country Zimbabwe.
Online Reporter
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