The Sunday News
Ngqwele Dube, Sports Correspondent
NINE Zimbabwe junior tennis players are set to battle with their regional counterparts in the CAT/ ITF Continental 14 and under Tournament that kicks off in Mauritius on Wednesday.
The squad team left the country yesterday (Saturday) for the individuals’ event that will run until 14 November.
Tennis Zimbabwe administrator, Clifford Nhokwara said the tournament presents the players with an opportunity to rake in points while giving the youngsters much needed exposure against their regional peers.
He said Zimbabwe has a team of five girls and four boys.
“In the boys’ section we have Mengezi Sibanda, Benedict Badza, Marko Milosovlevic and Thompson Tomu while girls who made the team are Tanya Midzi, Tadiwamauchi, Munashe Bere, Julie Tungamirai and Sasha Chimedza.
“Some of the players have been in camp since Wednesday preparing for the tourney under the tutelage of Freeman Nyamunoko and Gwinyai Tongoona and we believe this training will enable them to fully express their talents in Mauritius,” he said.
Nhokwara said the players are set to face opposition mainly from the Southern African regions with countries such as South Africa, Botswana, Namibia and the hosts fielding players.
“It’s an important competition because it will allow the youngsters to pick points hence increase their ranking and with higher rankings they get a chance to be invited to more regional and international tournaments. Exposure at this level is also critical as it gives the youngsters to gauge themselves against their peers from other countries and then see which aspects of their game they can improve on going forward,” he said.
The players are accompanied by coach, Linsent Chitiyo.
