Chronicle Editor
Mehluli Sibanda, Senior Sports Reporter
DESPITE being left stranded in foreign lands by a potential sponsor, Bulawayo’s tennis promising player, Emmly George did well in six tournaments in South Africa.
George has been in South Africa since the beginning of December last year and participated in six tournaments. The 10-year-old competed in tournaments held in Johannesburg, Pretoria, Port Elizabeth and East London.
She competed at Under-12 level. Out of the six tournaments, her best display came at the KM Challenge in East London played from 29 January to 3 February where she took third place. George defeated Tamere Steward 6-0, 6-0 in bronze medal match having lost in the semifinals to top seed Milan Swanepoel. George reached the quarterfinals in Port Elizabeth and went on to finish fifth having been beaten by Swanepoel in the last eight.
Accompanied by her father Mkhululi who is also her coach, George arrived in South Africa on 11 December and it has not been smooth sailing ever since. The sponsor had undertaken, in writing to fund her participation in four tournaments, with the bankroller to cover transport, accommodation and general upkeep.
Her family was asked to borrow money for travel expenses after money from the promised sponsorship did not come through. When they arrived in South Africa,
According to the father, they were not welcomed by representatives of the sponsor in South Africa as promised and they were destitute for eight hours until they were rescued by by a son to someone from their church.
From there on, George survived on support from well wishers as the sponsor kept making promises which were never honoured. With no money to return home and instead of giving up, George soldiered on.
“The trauma, horror, discomfort and uncertainty caused by the sponsor’s failure to deliver timeously its obligation has dealt a major blow in the life of Emmly’s confidence and personality. Her match play was highly affected by the level of uncertainty of our wellbeing.
“There were questions a father could no longer answer, where are we going to stay, what time are we eating, I am hungry etc. What was meant to be a celebration has turned out to be the most painful and horrific tour best known to the sponsor.
Emmly has been deeply displaced by the events of the last 40 days and as a child its deeply regrettable such that her life has really been affected,’’ the father said.
Funds for the youngster’s stay in South Africa came from her doubles partner Isabelle Zané Van Wyk’s family , KM Sports East London as well as Sportenic Management who arranged transport and accommodation.
The sponsor, who the family has asked not to be named for now has undertaken to refund all the money and buy air tickets for the youngster and her father.
As of yesterday, her father said they had not received anything and were now at the risk of having their days expire in South Africa before they exit the neighbouring country, which could affect George’s future participation in tournaments accross the Limpopo. George and her father have legal stay in South Africa until Tuesday.
In October last year, George, a Grade Five pupil at Dominican Convent Primary School secured full kit sponsorship from Imbizo Meat Products. −@Mdawini_29
Online Reporter