adminNgqwele Dube Sports Correspondent
@rasthembo
FORMER Bulawayo Metropolitan Province Tennis Board chairman Zeb Mawisire has bounced back into tennis administration after being elected to head the Bulawayo Tennis Coaches Association last Sunday. Mawisire takes over from Zenzo Ndlovu who was last month elected vice-chairman of the BMPTB. The veteran coach said he was excited to take another role within the tennis fraternity but believes it’s time to groom young coaches to lead the sport.
He said they would be focusing on bringing coaching courses to the province and ensuring local coaches acquire the necessary qualifications. Other members of the executive include Emakhandeni Tennis Club chairman Witness Jiyane who goes in as the vice-chairperson while Khumbulani Tembo is the secretary.
Mawisire said they were yet to fill the treasurer’s position after members nominated for the post declined to take it up.
“We retained former treasurer Thesly Mufunda for an interim period and we would be co-opting someone. I think issues to do with money are sensitive hence people were reluctant to go into the position, but we are going to look for someone with an accounting background to ensure the person can effectively handle the association’s fees,’’ said Mawisire.
“Mufunda cannot be retained in the post because he assumed chairmanship of the Association of Tennis Umpires Bulawayo Province.”
Mawisire said it was critical to have a registry for coaches that also detail their qualifications to ensure they easily roll out further coaching courses. He said it was unfortunate most of the courses were being held in Harare and South Africa but they would be advocating for more courses to be held locally to reduce costs for the coaches. Bulawayo last played host to a coaching course in 2010 with a Level Two.
“We all know there are coaches but there is no clarity on what qualifications hence a registry would come in handy while courses would empower more coaches. I will engage the board so that we come up with our own provincial courses aimed at young players who are no longer active who want to be coaches,” said Mawisire, adding that they were looking forward to a year in which coaches take the lead in the organisation and direct policy.
The veteran coach said they would be advocating for the extension of the term of office to go beyond one year as little could be achieved within that time frame.
Bongani Ndlovu