Chronicle Editor
Brandon Moyo, Sports Reporter
ZIMBABWEAN young tennis player Shane Tapera has been offered a scholarship to study in the United States of America (USA) at Alabama A and M University.
The 18-year-old Botswana-based tennis star is set to take part in a local tournament before he leaves for the US. Prior to starting school, the youngster will take part in USA summer camps.
“I am excited to be offered this scholarship which is a confirmation that I have been working hard with my coaches to improve my game. I am also happy that my hard work is being noticed and this will motivate me to work even harder,” said Tapera.
The youngster is set to compete in the first division in the United States which his father, Freedom Tapera, who is also a tennis coach, believes will assist him to develop his career.
Tapera took part in a challenger competition in Pretoria last week where he lost in the quarter finals of the singles after suffering an injury in his second game. He however, went on to win the doubles.
Tapera started tennis at the age of five and immediately showed signs of being a great player. Some of his achievements in the sport include winning the Harare Open Under-12 championship, staying number one in Botswana till he reached Form One. When he was at Prince Edward High he won the Junior Tennis Player of the Year.
“He represented his school well, participated in a few tournaments around Africa after saving big time for some ITF tournaments till he got his first doubles title in South Africa and singles title in Botswana,” said his father.
After securing International Tennis Federation (ITF) juniors’ titles, the rising tennis sensation was invited to the Zimbabwe Davis Cup development team.
Tapera believes spending a lot of time on the court with his son also contributed to his growth in the sport.
The scholarship came about after an agent who scouts around the continent for players picked up Shane’s name. The agent got in touch with Shane and started contacting different schools in the US.
Tennis coach from Alabama Eric Sturgis showed interest and the family settled for his offer.
Sturgis has helped a number of Zimbabwean youngsters to secure tennis scholarships in the US.
According to Sturgis, the university which Tapera is attending, has a Kenyan tennis coach.
“The school’s coach is from Kenya. He is getting full tuition scholarship. I am helping with room/board,” said Sturgis.
The youngster is set to start school in August. — @brandon_malvin
Online Reporter