WATCH: Tennis players in race against time

TWO of Bulawayo’s most talented tennis players Courage Ndlovu and Akeelah Khanye are in a race against time to each raise US$1 200 to enable them to play in the Southern Africa Zonal Championships in Namibia next month.

The du were selected after trials held in the capital last week and they made the cut.

Failure to travel will see them lose out on international rankings which are key to qualifying for major junior events. It also helps increase their chances for scholarships abroad.

Ndlovu is Zimbabwe’s top ranked Under-14 among the boys while Khanye is ranked fourth in the girls’ category of the same age-group.

Their coach Mike Mlambo said the two players from Fadzai Madzimbamuto Tennis Foundation in Emakhandeni had a lot of potential. He said it was important that they travel and get crucial points.

He said his tennis foundation which has since 2014 handled over 3000 children was catering for under privileged children. It does not charge anything for participants unlike most of the academies in the city that are funded from monthly fees paid by the kids.

The foundation has produced some notable talent, some of which is ranked well nationally.

“We cater for children for under privileged children. Our top ranked players are Akeelah Khanye Zimbabwe Number Four (4), Courage Ndlovu is Zimbabwe Number One (1) and Makanaka Whata Number 2 in the Under-16s,” said Mlambo.

He said his club was struggling for sponsorship towards equipment, local travel to rating tournaments and some beyond the country’s borders.

“As an academy we suffer mostly equipment like balls for the kids, training shoes, it’s very hot they play barefoot, they struggle.

If there is traveling they miss tournaments because there is no funding, they struggle to go to tournaments, Akeelah and Courage have been included in the national team for Namibia, it will be painful if they do not travel considering the hard work they put into it,” said Mlambo one of the city’s top tennis coaches.

Julius Ndlovu, Courage’s father called on the corporate sector to come on board and assist Bulawayo’s blooming stars reach their potential.

Those willing to assist the kids can call Gla Khanye on 0779057174