admin
Sports Reporter
THE late former tennis player and coach Godwin Madzima was laid to rest yesterday at Glen Forest Memorial Park.
He passed on in the United States of America last month.
Family, friends and the tennis fraternity came out to bid farewell to the tennis legend who coached some of the top academies in the USA such as Evert and Nick Balloterri.
The Davis Cup cheerleading team from Mufakose also came to pay last respects to one of their illustrious sons.
Former Tennis Zimbabwe vice- president Tanya Chinamo described Madzima as a talented player who later became a renowned juniors’ tennis coach in the United States.
Early this year he was inducted into the Cowley College Men’s Tennis Hall of Fame as he was part of the team recognised for its outstanding contributions to Cowley College sporting activities in 1991.
Madzima was among the first black tennis players who emerged from the high-density suburb of Mufakose and secured a scholarship to study in the US in 1986.
The other top players that came from the Mufakose Agency which was founded by veteran administrator Albert Nhamoyebonde during Madzima’s time included Tendai Baleng, Peter Nyamande, Nigel Badza, Shepherd Manyumbu and Elson Marondera.
Madzima, who learnt at Oriel Boys High, then moved to the USA where he played college tennis for Cowley College. Afterwards, he ventured into coaching juniors.
“We were the first group to start Mufakose Tennis Club with Godwin in the early 80s. That time things were very difficult when we had just gained Independence. But we were united. The biggest reason was to keep us from mischief. At that time competition was very tough. He was among the first black Zimbabwean players and was truly talented.
“Unfortunately, at the time competition was also very tough.
“At that stage, he didn’t manage to represent Zimbabwe because he was the same age as the likes of Byron Black.”
But as life went on he became a renowned coach in the US.
“I was talking to other players who grew up with him this morning, they were saying good things about him and how he became a renowned coach,” said Chinamo.
Tennis coach Richmore Murape also paid a glowing tribute to the Mufakose son who put the high-density suburb on the map and was among the generation of Mufakose stars that are dotted around the world as coaches.
Madzima’s friend Derrick Mpofu Manyanda, a former tennis player, also described Madzima as a gifted player who was in the same team as Bryon Black at Oriel Boys High.
“He was a junior to me but was talented and would beat some of us in the older generation. I went to Cranborne High and he went to Oriel Boys High after we left Tendayi Primary. But we would meet at competitions.
“He was in the same team with Byron and l was in the same team with Tendai Baleng and Rooney Smith and would meet to play in Harare competitions. He was a legend in his own way who took the racket to a higher level,’ he said.
Madzima’s brother in law Jeffrey Takawira Chada said as a family they will work with Tennis Zimbabwe to preserve Godwin’s tennis legacy. Tennis Zimbabwe president Walter Jera said he is currently working on a tennis documentary that will feature Mufakose and stars such as Godwin and others.
Madzima is survived by his mother and four sisters.
He was one of the first black tennis players to take part in junior tournaments. Only white junior players were allowed to take part before Independence.
Online Reporter