Chronicle Editor
Ngqwele Dube, Sports Correspondent
WITH action yet to start in local tennis due to the lockdown, local players have turned to neighbouring countries for action with several players heading to Botswana and South Africa.
Emakhandeni tennis players, Zamani Moyo and Shahin Tapera are in Botswana for two International Tennis Federation Under-18 tournaments. The first tourney is scheduled to start tomorrow while the second event begins a week later.
The Chapepa girls, Kudzai and Kuzivaishe, are playing in the Gauteng North Wilson mini 1 Grand Prix that started on Friday and are also scheduled to participate in the MP KPM Academy in Mpumalanga, South Africa. The Sibanda boys, Ethan and Mengezi will be heading to South Africa early next month to take part in three ITF under 18 tournaments, a Grade 4 event in Tshwane and two Grade 5 tourneys in Potchefstroom. Hailey Banda is also set to travel to Botswana to take part in the ITF under 18 competition next week.
Emakhandeni Tennis Club chairman, Witness Jiyane said lack of activity locally has seen several players looking to tournaments outside the country.
“The recent hard lockdown has made it difficult for tournaments to be hosted but neighbouring countries are hosting several events giving an opportunity to players to be in the courts. However, the difficulty is the higher costs involved when players travel and it disadvantages those who do not have the financial muscle to travel,” said Jiyane.
According to the Tennis Zimbabwe 2021 calendar the tennis season was scheduled to start tomorrow with the New Winners in Harare but the tournament is likely to be rescheduled due to the lockdown regulations. Schools inter-provincials are set to follow in March with Bulawayo hosting two ITF 18 and under events in May and June.
Harare will host three ITF South Central circuit under 18 tournaments in July and August.
The calendar does not list the dates for the Bulawayo Junior Open, Tarryn-Leigh De Souza Memorial, Midlands Junior Open, Mantas Open, Harare Junior Open, Manicaland Junior Open and Africa Junior Championships under 18 as there is uncertainty due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Highlands Open, Masvingo Juniors, Zimbabwe Closed and Inter-provincials are set for August.
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