The Sunday News
Ngqwele Dube, Sports Correspondent
NATIONAL junior tennis coach Nomvelo Ngwenya believes players selected to represent the country at the International Tennis Federation/Confederation of African Tennis Zonal Tourney in Botswana can produce competitive performances.
The tournament starts tomorrow in Gaborone and will run for four days. It is a regional qualifier for the African Junior Championships to be held in South Africa and Tunisia.
Ngwenya, together with Farai Tapfumaneyi, have been mandated by Tennis Zimbabwe to lead the players during the regional competition.
“The players will have to focus and win most of their matches to enhance their chances of progressing to the championships.
“We have been playing competitively of late and I think the kids can give us good results at the event. There will be team and individual scores and winning more games means as a unit will improve our standing,” she said.
Ngwenya said besides focusing on winning, upcoming players needed the experience to play in more competitions and strong opposition.
She said more hours in the court will ensure the players improve their game as they grow.
Twelve players have been selected to take part in the tourney and they include Tinashe Tarubereka (15), Taona Muwhandagara (14), Zamani Moyo (14) in the boys’ 16 and under section while Michael Happy (14), Benedict Badza (12) and Lyle Zalomous (13) will be turning out in the boys’ 14 and under category.
In the girls section, Rufaro Magarira (14), Vimbai Moyo (15), Tsitsi Mahere (14) will feature in the 16 and under category while Claire Machisa (14), Nicole Matukutire (12) and Ruvarashe Shoko would be battling in the 14 and under age grouping.
The team was scheduled to leave Bulawayo yesterday morning.
