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FOR the eleventh year in a row, a Zambian, Ray Simbule took the top honours at the Safeguard Zimbabwe Open Squash Championships staged at Suburbs Squash Club in Bulawayo last weekend.
Since the country’s premier squash competition was revived by the Matabeleland Squash Association in 2004, the men’s title has been won by Zambian players with the final matches being an all Zambian affair.
South Africa based Simbule claimed his sixth Zimbabwe Open Squash Championship crown which came with a cash prize of $1 000 with a 3-1 triumph over another Zambian who plies his trade in South Africa, Mwansa Chileshe.
Zimbabwean players have found the going tough at the tournament with the best a Zimbabwean has achieved in the men’s section being reaching the semi-finals. Even the country’s former number one player, Jesse Engelbrecht, now a South African citizen could not end the Zambian domination at the tournament the only time he took part.
Harare based Ahmed Hassan was the best performing Zimbabwean in the men’s category in fourth place after losing to Simbule in the semi-finals and again coming out second best to another Zambian Ken Mwape in a third place play-off. Blessing Muhwati, the young brother of United States of America based Samson took fifth spot while another Zimbabwean Malvin Mubure, younger brother to another top Zimbabwean player Ishmael took sixth place.
This year saw less Zambians entering the tournament compared to last year because the country had some of its top players participating in the Commonwealth Games in Scotland.
Besides Zambia, the other foreign players were from Botswana who sent in three males and the same number of female players.
Simbule overpowered Hassan 3-1 in the semi-finals while Chileshe won by a similar scoreline over fellow Zambian Mwape.
The 35-year-old Simbule believes that Zimbabwe does have the talent to wrestle away the title from the Zambians. Simbule emphasised that Zimbabwean players need exposure at the highest level if that is to be achieved. He singled out Muhwati who is just 19 years of age as someone with potential to become the best locally based player.
Hassan said his preparations were hampered by fasting during the month of Ramadan when Moslems don’t eat food during the day. He was playing in his first Zimbabwe Open Squash Championship after five years.
The 25-year-old Hassan said he was looking forward to doing well at the Zimbabwe Closed to be held in Harare next month where he is one of the favourites to win.
However, it was not all gloom for Zimbabwe with the doubles, veterans and women’s title remaining in the country. It was an unbelievable 11th win in a row for the local doubles pair of Neil Nesbitt and Mike Burns, the pair seeing off an easy challenge from the Strydom brothers Gregory and Michael whom they trounced 3-0.
Harare based Joseph Matambanadzo was the top player in the veterans section with a 3-0 triumph over Zambian David Simpemba.
Yvonne Mubure of Harare showed that squash runs in their veins in her family with a 3-0 victory over Bulawayo girl Lauren Williams, the last year’s runner.
Had Williams triumphed she could have followed in her sisters Robyn and Michelle who have previously won the women’s section.
The 2014 Zimbabwe Open Squash Championships have come and gone with Zimbabwean players still pondering how they can wrestle the top prize from the Zambians once again.
Online Reporter