TZ names team for zonals

Ellina Mhlanga Sports Reporter
TENNIS Zimbabwe has named an 11-member team to represent the country at the African Junior Championships Zonal in Gaborone, Botswana, early next year. The tournament runs from January 9 to 17 with junior players drawn from different countries taking part in the Under-12, Under-14 and Under-16 age-groups.

The Under-14s and Under-16s will be fighting for spots at the Africa Junior Championships finals to be held in March in Tunisia.

In the boys section, Zimbabwe will be represented by Muzi Sibanda and Tanaka Chabata (Under-16), Valentine Munyawiri and Brett Hounsell (Under-14) while Tatenda Mtetwa and Taona Muhwandagara will fight for honours in the Under-12 age group.

Beverly Matsiwe and Munashe Kaome will compete in the girls Under-16 while the pair of Nandi Munyulwa and Chelsea Dzenga will battle it out in the Under-14s.

Clare Machisa will be the sole representative in the girls Under-12.

Some of the players such as Munyawiri, Matsiwe, Moses and Chabata were part of the team that finished second at the same competition early this year, behind South Africa, qualifying for the AJC in the process.

The pair of Tadiwa Chinamo and Julius Mtetwa went on to qualify for the Youth Tennis Championships after a successful campaign at the AJC finals.

TZ administrator, Cliff Nhokawara said they are hopeful the team will succeed despite a number of new faces that will be making their debut appearances especially in the Under-12 age-group.