adminEllina Mhlanga Sports Reporter
TENNIS Zimbabwe president, Regis Bhunu, believes there is still more to be done if the sport is to reach its full potential. The association recently held their first quarterly meeting in Harare to assess progress. Bhunu said there has been some progress on their developmental programmes but feels more can be done.
“It was our first quarterly meeting, it was mainly to check where we are. We were looking at issues of development where provinces have to come and give us what they have achieved and what challenges they are facing.
“There is some level of improvement but we would want it to grow. When we talk of development we want growth of numbers in the Under-10. What we are encouraging provinces is to go to schools, the moment we have a big base then we can feel development is on course.
“And, maybe, what would be wanted is for the children to have something to look forward to by organising more tournaments,” said Bhunu.
The TZ president said they were hoping to introduce tournaments that will be specifically targeting Under-10s as they intensify their development programme.
“We have encouraged provinces and coaches to host 10-and-under events so there are tournaments for them only.
“I would say there is some development but not to the level we want. For us to be happy it is when we have tennis structures in rural areas. In the next five years there should be tennis in the rural areas,” said Bhunu.
Meanwhile, Bhunu said they were still waiting for confirmation from ITF on the dates to hold their two futures tournaments this year.
“We are regulated by ITF on when we are suppose to hold them. I think in the next fortnight we should receive those dates. Normally ITF wait for presentations from other countries. They try to link them with other tournaments. It will be more attractive that way.
“So far from what we have it might be a US$15 000 and a US$10 000 event. Twenty Third Century Systems want to run a US$15 000 tournament and for NetOne it should be a US$10 000 event,” Bhunu said.
The tournaments were supposed to be held last year after Zimbabwe successfully hosted their first futures event in 2012 after a seven-year break.
However, they had to move the events after ITF indicated that they could only hold the tournaments in December and the national association felt that it would not attract more players since it was close to the holidays.
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