Chronicle Editor
Nkosilathi Sibanda, [email protected]
IT was a victory well deserved for the country’s representatives at the International Tennis Federation (ITF) and Confederation of African Tennis (CAT) Southern African Junior Individual and Teams Championships in Namibia.
The Under-14 girls’ team has sealed a berth for the World Junior Championships to be played later this year.
Zimbabwe bagged gold in the girls’ Under-14 team event, beating South Africa 2-0 on a 3-6, 6-1, 10-7 scoreline. The team comprised Kuzivaishe Chapepa, Rutendo Tom and Akeelah Khanye.
Chapepa, who hails from Bulawayo is ranked at second position in the CAT 14 and Under circuit, as at January 1.
Khanye is with the Fadzai Madzbamuto-Tomasik Foundation in Emakhandeni.
She now tops the regional rankings.
This was the second gold for the country after Chapepa won the singles finals last week, beating South African Jordan Edwards 6-2, 6-1. The Namibia tourney was a sure proof of the effort put by local coaches in grooming the youngsters.
Under the supervision of national coach Athnie Chifamba, the girls Under-14s’ triumphant left an impact in the regional tournament.
Chifamba spoke of how well the players displayed their skill on court.
“The team played very well. They competed against the giants in the Southern region and managed to overcome. The Under-14 girls managed to beat South Africa twice both in the individual event and team event.
“It has been a long time the Under-14 girls have come first in a major tournament and they will go on to represent Zimbabwe in the African Junior Championships. It was a great achievement indeed. As coach I’m proud of them. They managed to work as a team and were successful,” said Chifamba.
She said the Under-14 boys’ managed to finish in the top 13 of the individual events. In the team event competition there was Muchengeti Manzungu, Divine Kaliofas and Courage Ndhlovu who managed to come fourth behind Mauritius.
“They fought hard. The boys were tougher and stronger in the region. The Under-16 girls’ played exceptionally well. We were represented by Charnell Zhuwakini, Zahara El Zein and Tinotenda Chipfakacha in team events and they finished on second position. They battled with tougher countries, managing to be in the top eight in the individual events. They also qualified together with the Under-14 girls’ for the African Junior Championships which will be held this year.
“The Under-16 boys played well but had a tough draw and met tougher matches against different countries. The team had Morgan Mukwanila, Tawananyasha Shamuyarira and Mwaita Mukudu.
“In the team events they came seventh and were in the top 20 on the individual performances. Generally, our players did well at this tournament,” said Chifamba who is also a coach at Hillside Sports Club in Mutare.
She gave huge credit to the players’ parents and Tennis Zimbabwe for the support and opportunity they extended to the young tennis stars. — @NkosieLegend
Online Reporter