admin
Nkosilathi Sibanda
THERE is no glory bigger than a story of how good a local school has done in mentoring a crop of youngsters who have become sporting sensations, whose talent would become a national treasure.
One such, is Bulawayo’s Josiah Chinamano Primary School that prides in having its latest pupil taking the crown as being the best, if not the undisputed young champion in the game of tennis.
Here was a 13-year-old Courage Ndlovu, from the school, that no one thought as the best or could achieve anything in sport, who has turned out a sensation in tennis.
Ndlovu has just been crowned the champion of the National Association of Primary Heads (Naph) tennis national tournament, having won all his matches, from zone up to the national level.
It’s a feat that deserves to be in the annals of history and underlines Emakhandeni suburb’s contribution to national tennis as Fadzai Madzimbamuto-Tomasik, Noel Wadawu, Matthew Gumbo, Gloria Mpala, Tyrone Keith Mpofu, Dumiso Khumalo and Vusa Khonza-Majola are big tennis names from the suburb.
The young Ndlovu sealed his place with a clean sheet throughout the Naph national competition.
He propelled Bulawayo Province to the top as he first won his first match against Harare Province on a 6-4 record.
The youngster went on to beat the Manicaland champion 6-3.
He was to record the same scoreline against Mashonaland East and Mashonaland West represantatives.
In the next round, he was to maintain his tempo and brought the Bulawayo Metropolitan Province to a 6-2 victory in the semi-final against Manicaland.
In the final match he won 6-4 against the Harare Province champion.
Ndlovu is a Grade 7 pupil at Josiah Chinamano Primary School.
In 29 tournaments, he has won 29 medals, 10 being gold, 14 silver and five bronze.
Josiah Chinamano Primary School headmistress Jean Sibanda was elated by Ndlovu’s performance.
“As a school we are very proud and we would love to thank his parents who have been supportive from an early age as they came all the way to Harare to support the child and his coach Mike who works extremely hard,” Sibanda.
She said the school strives to be the the best in teaching both academic and sporting activities“We hope to unite, challenge and inspire the future generation starting from Early Childhood Development (ECD) to grade 7 hoping that our secondary school colleagues will take over from there,” said Sibanda.
She is a member of the fledging Fadzai Madzimbamuto-Tomasik Tennis Foundation founded in 2014 who employ Coach Mike on a fulltime basis.
Online Reporter