The Sunday News
SOUTH Africa dominated the International Tennis Federation/Confederation of African Tennis Southern Circuit that ended on Thursday as they scooped all the four finals.
The tournament, which ended at the Bulawayo Country Club on Thursday, saw Under-12 and Under-14 players from across Southern Africa squaring off and it was youngsters from down south who clinched all the four finals.
Line Greyling won the Girls Under-12 competition while Devin Badenhorst clinched the Boys’ Under-12 with Rochelle Pienaar being crowned the Girls Under-14 champion before Connor Kruger wrapped it up in the similar age for boys.
Zimbabwe’s top performer was Ethan Sibanda who made it into the Boys’ Under-14 final but was beaten by Kruger 7-5, 6-7 (4) 6-1.
The intense three set final was tough for Sibanda but he brought out his best as he stretched Kruger forcing him to win seven games for the first set while he clawed back in the second match to win 6-7 with four break points.
Sibanda succumbed in the third set as Kruger cruised to 5-0 and although the local youngster showed glimpse of a comeback making the game 5-1, he couldn’t match the South African’s game.
Kruger, who was winning his third ITF/CAF tourney in two years, said he was excited with the victory adding he intends replicating his success at the forthcoming continental tourney to be held in Botswana this week.
Zimbabwe’s Claire Machisa managed third place in the Girls’ Under-12, Michael Happy was third in the boys’ section while Vimbai Moyo was fourth in the Girls’ Under-14 and Taona Muhwandaga took fourth position in the boys’ age group.
Tennis Zimbabwe administrator Cliff Nhokwara said he was happy with the performance saying it was a learning curve for both the players and coaches.
“It provided the platform for both the kids and coaches to see the standard of the game among their peers in the region and hopefully they picked some lessons despite the fact we did not win. I think we did well considering we had several players coming third and fourth, it would be good if we work on that and improve our game,” said Nhokwara.
Bulawayo Metropolitan Province Tennis chairperson and coach, Zeb Mawisire believes lack of match fitness was Zimbawean players’ undoing adding there was a need for more game time.
He said while their South African counterparts took part in tournaments throughout the year, local players only get game time during school holidays where three competitions can be cramped.
“I think we need more tournaments spaced throughout the year rather than being held in just one or two months because I realised while we managed to match the South Africans in terms of play, their match fitness was superior. We need to work with the Ministry of Education to ensure kids can take part in tournaments even during the school terms,” said Mawisire.
Another local coach, Adam Joelson said they needed to adopt variation when coaching young players and also incorporating techniques they previously reserved for later stages.
“We haven’t been teaching the kids certain techniques but we realised South African youngsters are already practicing those hence we should also adopt and dump the mentality that they will learn in later years,” said Joelson.
The tourney attracted players from South Africa, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Namibia and Madagascar.
