The Sunday News
Ngqwele Dube Sports Correspondent
SINCE the emergence of the successful exploits of the Black siblings, Byron, Wayne and Cara, tennis managed to attract a lot of people enabling it to shed its elite tag. Many Zimbabweans took up the sport although they have failed to replicate the success achieved by the Blacks, who held their own in the international circuit. However, there is still hope the country will be able to produce gems and this month one future star who has attracted interest is Mehluli Sibanda, who showcased his talent at the recent three International Tennis Federation South/Central junior events held in Harare.
Sibanda held his own emerging as one of the best junior players in the country.
He turned on the heat as he battled against some of the best junior players from across the world.
The 15-year-old player managed to cause upsets, beating some of the higher seeded players during the tournaments.
He, who went into the games seeded eighth, managed to reach the final of the first tourney before losing to Briton Luke Hammond while in the second event he lost to South African Peterson Cameron in the last 16 and in week three he lost to South Africa’s Richard Thongoana in the semi-finals.
While many local players fell by the wayside in the opening rounds, the South African-based player produced top drawer performances.
Sibanda’s coach Prince Madema said the youngster has showed all the signs of becoming a good player and with resources permitting he can go far in his tennis career.
Madema started coaching Sibanda last year when he enrolled at the High Performance Centre (HPC) at the University of Pretoria and feels the boy is developing well and has a good understanding of the sport.
“His strongest point is in tactics and the fact that he loves taking to the court against other players. He is eager to compete and he is also mentally strong, a trait which I believe will see him through to many podium finishes.
“He was brilliant in Harare and I think there is a lot we can get from him in the future,” he said. Madema however, pointed out that the young player has difficulty handling frustration, an area they are working on.
“There is also the issue of balancing academic education and playing the sport which has to be handled well.
“Young players from other countries, particularly Europe, have the advantage of home schooling which is flexible and allow more hours on the court,” he said.
Mehluli was introduced to tennis at the tender age of six by his father Tendai Sibanda who had decided to ensure his children try their hands at the sport.
The senior Sibanda said it was his daughter Julie who requested a racquet when she was six and he then decided her other siblings should follow in her footsteps.
“Julie came to me asking for a racquet and that was the turning point that convinced me to assist my children delve into the sport.
“Admittedly I had no interest in the sport but when Julie asked for a racquet, I encouraged my other children to follow in her footsteps. I then started training them at young age. I later realised it was best they get more professional training at the HPC in South Africa,” he said.
Mehluli’s other siblings who took to the sport include Cynthia, Muzingaye and Ethan, who has been doing wonders on the local junior tennis scene. Muzingaye is also attending the HPC and although he took part in the recent International Trade Federation (ITF) South/Central circuits he did not fare well, exiting in the early stages.
Madema said tennis is an expensive sport and many talented youngsters end up leaving the sport due to lack of resources.
He said Mehluli managed to acquit himself well in several ITF junior circuits this year having played in Namibia, Botswana and South Africa but his best performance was on home soil.
While initially Tendai was comfortable allowing other coaches to train his children, he felt they were not getting the best training and later opened his own academy, Centre for Tennis Excellence, which is situated at the Old Miltonians Sports Club.
The senior Sibanda said despite not having any experience in tennis, he felt he could coach his children better.
“Yes, I do not have any coaching qualification and I did not play tennis, but I felt they (children) would be better off with me as their coach and I believe this has worked wonders.
“I believe his showing in the recent tournaments is a sign of his talent and how far he can go in the sport. I am certain he can go all the way to compete professionally,” he said.
Mehluli said he was pleased with his performance in Harare adding the sky is the limit for him in the sport.
He said his exploits boosted his confidence and will continue working hard.
“Yes, I would like to turn professional but now I want to focus on improving my game and hope for the best,” he said.
Tendai said while Muzingaye played beautiful tennis and has showed to be highly talented he lacks a fighting spirit which he hopes he acquires soon.
Madema began his flirtation with the sport in Tshabalala in the late eighties at Mahlabezulu Primary School before he turned to coaching prior to heading off to Botswana in 2000, where he was involved with the ITF junior development programme and he later moved to South Africa.
He was then appointed ITF development officer for East Africa and played a role in setting up an ITF centre in Burundi and he returned to South Africa in 2011 and set up his own academy before took up the job at the HPC.
