dyton mupawaenda
Sports Reporter
ZIMBABWE’S teams at the ongoing ITF/CAT 12-and-Under African Junior Teams Competition 2023 got their campaign underway on Monday with the girls winning their opening tie in Casablanca, Morocco.
The tournament is running until Sunday and has attracted teams from Algeria, Benin, Botswana, Equatorial Guinea, Libya, Guinea, Kenya, Morocco, Namibia, Nigeria, Tunisia, South Africa and Zimbabwe.
Zimbabwe are represented in both sections with the boys team consisting of Muchengeti Manzungu, Unathi Sithole and Munenyasha Mhlanga while the girls side is made up of Emmly George, Rutendo Tom and Claire Majeye.
The girls team had a positive start when beating Kenya 3-0 in Group Two on Monday.
Emmly George overpowered Liya Gikunda 6-2, 6-1 while Rutendo Tom outclassed Baihjheba Ogamba 6-1, 6-2.
Tom teamed up with Claire Majeye to claim the doubles match and sealed the victory for Zimbabwe.
The Group also includes Morocco, Algeria and Botswana.
In the boys category Zimbabwe lost 3-0 to Nigeria in Group Two. They then took on Libya yesterday and won 3-0 while the girls team had a rest.
They will also face Equatorial Guinea and Morocco.
The teams are being led by coach Farayi Tapfuma and he said they are hopeful of reaching their targets at the event.
“We are happy with the performance so far since most of the teammates are still adjusting on clay surface.
“If our players had time to practice on clay (it) would have fully equipped them with strategies that bring better performance on clay.
“We are hoping the girls make top five and boys top eight since our rankings are very low at this event. If we maintain the standard we have so far, we have high hopes to achieve them,” said Tapfuma.
Following their victory yesterday against Libya, Tapfuma is hoping the boys can carry the momentum into the next tie against Morocco.
“The boys looked focused and I am hoping they will maintain the momentum as they face Morocco tomorrow (today),” Tapfuma said.
Zimbabwe’s girls team is back in action today when they face Algeria in their second Group game.
The top two teams from each Group progress to the semi-finals and the rest of the teams will play for positions.
The girls team qualified for the continental competition when they came second at the ITF/CAT Southern Africa 12-and-Under team competition held in Mozambique, in July.
Only the top two teams at the regional competition qualified. South Africa were the overall winners.
The boys received a wildcard to compete at the continental team competition after finishing third behind South Africa and Namibia at the same regional event in Mozambique.
Online Reporter