The Sunday News
Ngqwele Dube Sports Correspondent
DIVISIONS appear to have rocked the newly elected Bulawayo Metropolitan Province Tennis Board amid revelations that two members of the board have resigned. The new BMPTB executive led by Tarwirwa Raggs Chikunichawa was thrust into office at an elective AGM at Bulawayo Athletic Club a fortnight ago. Chikunichawa beat Tendai Sibanda by four votes to two to clinch the chairmanship of the provincial tennis association.
Clement Hwata came in as vice-chairperson, former Bulawayo Tennis Coaches Association chairman Zenzo Ndlovu was appointed secretary-general, Bev Viljoen bagged the treasurer’s portfolio, Glory Gijima was elected organising secretary while Tendai Sibanda was assigned the development portfolio.
However, barely two weeks down the line the board is on the brink of collapse with sources revealing that Sibanda and Hwata decided to leave over disaffection on the way the election process was conducted. Sibanda confirmed he had decided not to be part of the Board while Hwata chose to remain mum.
Sibanda said they were unhappy over the way the appointments were made alleging collusion between National Association of Primary School Heads (Naph) officials and tennis coaches to have Chikunichawa made chairman. Sibanda was adamant that he did not lose the chairmanship duel, adding “people were simply slotted into positions’’.
The BMPTB selects six members who make up the executive, who then meet and allocate positions to each other.
Sibanda said he found it irregular that Chikunichawa in his capacity as a coach should take charge of administration thereby dictating to parents of tennis players who ironically are employers of the coaches.
Surprisingly, BMPTB has a history of being led by coaches. Adam Joelson and Zeb Mawisire, who are coaches themselves, are the past chairpersons, who led the board effectively without incident.
“I feel there was collusion between the Sports and Recreation Commission and Naph officials to have a coach in that post. But personally I don’t think it works well if a coach becomes the chairman, which means we will be taking orders from someone who at one point, as parents, is our employee. We employ the coaches to teach our kids so how then do we get orders from them?
“Personally I felt it would have been an injustice if I had continued in a divided board because we were not going to achieve anything so I thought it best to resign and allow them to continue with their tenure,” said Sibanda.
Chikunichawa said he was not aware of any resignations as he was yet to be notified. “I am yet to meet them but I don’t know anything of the sort. However, if they have any concerns we are going to meet and address them,” said Chikunichawa.
Naph Bulawayo Province head-in-charge of tennis Priscilla Chibelu who oversaw the election declined to comment referring all questions to “tennis people”.
