The Sunday News
Mehluli Sibanda, Senior Sports Reporter
ZIMBABWEAN Lucky Mlilo has been re-elected vice-president Southern region for the Africa Squash Federation at the continental body’s annual general meeting at the end of last month.
Mlilo, the Zimbabwe Squash Rackets Association chairman was part of the continental body as the vice-president for the South having been elected in 2013. At the federation’s AGM held at the Wanderers Squash Club in Johannesburg, he had his tenure extended up to 2020. Egyptian Hany Hamouda is still the president of the continental federation.
The 51-year-old Bulawayo business executive said they were looking to host the All Africa senior championship next year after being encouraged by the Minister of Sport and Recreation, Makhosini Hlongwane who was the guest of honour at the Zimbabwe Open Squash Championship held in Bulawayo at the end of July.
“We are looking to host either the All Africa senior championship or the junior tournament, we are in the process of putting in a bid, the minister encouraged us to bid. We understand Mauritius want to host one of the tournaments so when we know which one they want, we will put in our bid and about $30 000 is needed for the tournament,’’ said Mlilo.
Last month, Mlilo who is also a squash referee travelled to Egypt and South Africa where he officiated in two tournaments.
The competition in Cairo was a Professional Squash Association event while the one in Johannesburg was a World Masters tournament. Mlilo had registered to play in the South Africa tournament but he could not do so as he arrived late from Egypt.
Zimbabwe had 22 players in South with Muri Mukadam and Jeffrey Fenwick being the ones from Bulawayo while 19 were from Harare.
Mlilo’s squash officiating career has taken a knock in the last two years as he has not had much international competitions where he gets assessments in his bid to become an international referee.
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