The Sunday News
Ngqwele Dube Sports Correspondent
OVER 60 junior tennis players from Southern Africa are expected to converge on the Bulawayo Country Club to take part in the International Tennis Federation/Confederation of African Tennis African Junior Circuit that kicks off tomorrow at Bulawayo Athletic Club.
The tourney, which ends on Thursday, involves Under-12 and Under-14 players, and youngsters from South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Madagascar and Zimbabwe are set to battle it out for honours.
Tennis Zimbabwe administrator Cliff Nhokwara said all was set for the tournament, which kicked off with a training camp on Thursday for 27 players from the five countries.
The camp, which ends today, involves top players from each of the participating countries who are being drilled by seven coaches led by ITF development officer for Southern Africa Riaan Kruger and TZ representative Freeman Nyamumoko.
Nhokwara said the training session is meant to sharpen the skills of the emerging stars to ensure they were prepared for the task at hand.
Of the 27 players attending the training camp, four were from South Africa, six from Namibia, eight apiece from Botswana and Zimbabwe with one from Madagascar.
The Zimbabwean contingent include Claire Machisa, Nicole Matukutire, Bukhosi Moyo, Michael Happy, all in the Under-12 section while the Under-14 age group has Vimbai Moyo, Charlotte Zhuwakini, Anesu Kwirirai and Towona Muhandagara.
The tournament will allow players to earn points for continental rankings while interaction with foreign players and coaches is likely to impact on the local game.
The tourney will be followed by a similar event in Botswana for the same age groups which begins on 11 May and most of the participants are expected to also feature at that tournament.
The country is also scheduled to host three $10 000 ITF Futures events in Harare from June 20 to July 10 further widening the scope for local players to compete on the international stage.
