Pickleball gains momentum in Bulawayo

Media Mpofu, Zimpapers Sports Hub

PICKLEBALL is no longer just a curiosity in Zimbabwe, it’s starting to take hold and Bulawayo is leading the charge.
The Bulawayo Pickleball Association will host a tournament at Hornung Park in Burnside on August 9. The event serves as a warm up for the national championships set to take place at the same venue eight days later, on August 17.

Introduced in 2023, the sport has grown rapidly, now played across six provinces, Bulawayo, Harare, Matabeleland North and South, Midlands and Mashonaland East.

Only teams from Bulawayo and Harare will feature in the upcoming national tournament, which will also double as trials to select players for Zimbabwe’s team at the inaugural Regional Games in South Africa, Africa’s first ever regional pickleball event.

The tournament is open to both men and women, who can enter as individuals, doubles, or mixed pairs.
Zimbabwe Pickleball Association president Mthandazo Ngwenya said the long term goal is global, the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics or the sport’s World Cup.

“We’re introducing this sport from grassroot. Schools and teachers have embraced it, and we’re looking forward to engaging the National Association of Secondary School Heads (Nash) so it can be added to their tournaments,” said Ngwenya.

He admitted that they’re still fighting for recognition and resources. “We’re competing with more established sports disciplines but we hope people will soon choose pickleball.”

Eveline High School, Dominican Convent High School and Whitestone Primary School have already adopted the sport and offer training facilities.

National association secretary general Takunda Zhungu called the upcoming nationals one of their biggest milestones.

“The idea for the nationals was floated last year, but we couldn’t follow through due to financial challenges,” he said. “It’s one of the biggest achievements so far that we’re finally having this first national tournament, and I’m excited.”

For a sport still in its infancy in Zimbabwe, the next two weeks in Bulawayo could be the springboard that pickleball needs to break through.