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Grace Chingoma
Senior Sports Reporter
GODWIN Madzima, a former tennis player who dedicated the rest of his career as a juniors coach based in Florida in the United States, has died.
He passed on in the early hours of Saturday after a cardiac arrest.
Close family told The Herald yesterday Madzima has not been feeling well for some time. He was 54 years old.
Madzima was among the first black tennis players who emerged from the high-density suburb of Mufakose to secure a scholarship and study in the US in 1986.
Madzima was the backbone of the Mufakose Tennis Coaching Agency, established by the veteran administrator and honorary life vice president of Tennis Zimbabwe Albert Nhamoyebonde just after Independence to help spread tennis in the high-density suburbs.
The other top players that came from the Mufakose Agency during Madzima’s time include Tendai Baleng, Peter Nyamande, Nigel Badza, Shepherd Manyumbu and Elson Marondera.
Madzima who learnt at Oriel Boys High moved to the US where he played college tennis for Cowley College. He then ventured into coaching junior players and was a director at an Academy in Florida.
In January, he was inducted into Cowley College Men’s Tennis Hall of Fame as he was part of the team which was recognised for outstanding contributions to Cowley College sporting activities in 1991.
Unfortunately, Madzima never got to celebrate his award as the package arrived at his home last week.
His elder sister Ellen who was staying with Madzima in Florida said she opened the package after his death.
“He was inducted into his college tennis Hall of Fame. The packages came this week (last week) he hadn’t opened them. I just did. There is a note with some very lovely words,” said Ellen.
According to the Cowley Tigers website, Madzima’s team was recognised as arguably one of the best tennis teams in the history of Cowley College the 1991 Tiger men’s tennis team brought home the second national title for legendary head coach Larry Grose.
“Two years after capturing its first national championship, the Cowley men’s tennis team placed first at the NJCAA Division II National Tournament. Along with the team’s success, the Tigers had the national champion singles player at 1 and 2 singles and also had the national champion No. 1 doubles team.
“With one of the strongest fields in NJCAA Division II history, the Tigers won the title on the last match of the final day. Team members were Todd Clutter, Mike Klatt, Godwin Madzima, Todd Jaramillo, Mick Evans, James Wilson, Cornelius Jordan, Chris Richards, and Gavaska Williams,” read the website.
Yesterday Nhamoyebonde said Godwin was an ambassador for Zimbabwean tennis and inspired many children in Mufakose.
“He was one of the first black junior tennis players to take part in junior tournaments. Only white junior players were allowed to take part before independence. With the advent of independence in 1980, there were no black junior tennis players except those trained in Mufakose. They then entered their first tournament in 1982.
“These were Godwin Madzima, Tendai Baleng, Gift Nkomo and Daniel Monchusi. Godwin then was awarded a tennis scholarship to study in the USA. He was an excellent tennis player and later became a tennis coach.
“He inspired many children in Mufakose to take up tennis.
I greatly miss him. He was a fine young man and an ambassador for Zimbabwe tennis. May his soul find eternal peace,” said Nhamoyebonde.
Madzima’s elder sister Sithembeni Chada said Godwin’s mother and the rest of the family are devastated.
“Godwin was the last born in our family. Godwin loved tennis. It was his life. He has left a legacy. He coached many people who went to be successful in their careers. He was coaching his nieces the Rugara daughters (Koronayashe and Kema). The family is still working on the repatriation process and the funeral arrangements would be advised in due course. Mourners are gathered at 3 Murungu in Mufakose,” said Sithembeni.
Chairman of the disbanded ZIFA Restructuring Committee Blessing Rugara described Madzima, who was also his father-in-law’s younger brother as an amazing human being. Rugara’s daughters Koronayashe and Kema were trained by Godwin in Florida.
“Godwin taught Korona how to play tennis. He worked with her and Kema between 2017 and 2022 when he became ill.
“In 2019 Rona won South African nationals and also made the United States national team with Godwin as her coach.
“Godwin coached several players to be top juniors in world tennis having been a top coach at Evert Tennis Academy and Nick Baloterri as well,” said Rugara.
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