adminRay Bande Senior Sports Reporter
KEY stakeholders in the game of tennis believe the sport in general and the popular Mutare talent nursery — Mantas Tennis Academy — in particular, is in dire need of corporate partnership if the dream to take the country to the Promised Land is to come to fruition.
Zimbabwe fell to Bosnia and Herzegovina in a 2015 Euro-Africa Zone Group II tennis tie on March 6-8 on the hard outdoor courts at Harare Sports Club and that humiliating home defeat was construed as another major sign of waning fortunes spawned by lack of corporate partnership.
To its credit, Mantas has played its role in the development of the game of tennis by holding most junior tennis tournaments being held locally, Under-10s, Under-12s, Under-14s and Under-18 age groups competing in numerous tournaments that include Mantas Invitational tournament.
The Mantas Series, which used to held every month, the Manicaland Open, which was won by talented players like Tendai Tapfuma and the Mantas Open are some of the junior tennis tournament in which junior age group players compete in and are facilitated by the Mantas Tennis Academy.
But the academy remains hamstrung by an acute shortage of funding.
“We are appealing to all well-wishers and the corporate community in particular to come to our rescue. We are in dire need of sponsorship as an academy and as a sport. Tennis has provided opportunities for many youngsters and the game deserves support from all progressive corporates.
“As an academy, we have numerous programmes aimed at developing talent that need the support of the corporate community, but it appears we are not getting it. Tennis has the capacity to market the country as a proud sporting nation if it gets the necessary funding,” said Elizabeth Martins, who co-founded the academy together with the equally ageing husband.
United States-based Takanyi Garanganga, who was at Mutare Girls’ High courts for the greater part of Saturday (tomorrow) prior to their Davis Cup assignment, also echoed Martins’ sentiments saying the game is in dire need of corporate partnership.
Garanganga, who was part of the small crowd, followed proceedings during the Mantas Tennis Academy open day recently, also echoed Martins’ sentiments saying there is potential in the junior players, but as long as they do not get the necessary financial backing, they will not achieve their dreams.
Together with his American-based mentor, Garanganga conducted a coaching clinic after the Mantas Tennis Academy open day event.
Apart from Garanganga, the ill-fated Zimbabwe Davis Cup team also included returnee Wayne Black, Mark Fyn, Tinotenda Chanakira and non-playing captain Martin Dzuwa.
Online Reporter