adminThe rescheduled elections were held at the Sports and Recreation Commission offices in Gweru on Saturday and were supervised by Nhokwara who is Tennis Zimbabwe administration officer. The elections ended Nyakotyo’s close to a decade control of the game in the province.
The two candidates had polled 10 votes each when Nyakotyo decided to hand over the reigns to the Kwekwe-based Rudhu.
According to the constitution, the presiding officer was supposed to cast the deciding vote.
Rudhu immediately spelt out his plans for tennis during his tenure stating there was need to close the gap separating the province from other tennis playing provinces such as Harare, Manicaland and Bulawayo.
“There is need to close the gap between us and other provinces such as Harare, Bulawayo and Manicaland. This can only be achieved through more tournaments for our players. Our players have not had exposure to match players from other provinces.
“We will introduce a schools league for both primary and secondary schools in the province together with district tournaments. The district tournaments will be held every second month and we will also have provincial tournaments,” he said.
Rudhu said senior leagues will also be introduced and all the tournaments were supposed to start running by February next year.
He said the objective was to have players participating in national events.
In other portfolios, Daniel Tendenedzai is now the new vice chairperson after beating Kwekwe based tennis coach Simon Dzeke 14-6 while Jamia Seremani took over as the new secretary after beating Enock Nokia Garanewako.
Douglas Kunze is now in charge of finances after beating Stein Joji Mlambo 18-1. The other four board members will be chosen by the new board.
The elections are expected to end divisions that were sparked by the coaches’ breakaway in 2006.
Online Reporter