The Sunday News
Mehluli Sibanda, Senior Sports Reporter
A POOR turnout characterised this year’s Safeguard Zimbabwe Open Squash Championships held at Suburbs Squash Club last weekend.
For years, the turnout from foreigners, especially Zambians was huge at Zimbabwe’s premier annual squash even. Zambians have taken turns to lift the men’s title with Nigeria and South Africa of late having joined in on the act.
This year, the foreign legion withdrew from the competition with Squash Rackets Association of Zimbabwe chairman Lucky Mlilo attributing that to inadequate funding.
“It was a tournament that took place under very difficult conditions, the sponsorship was limited and the unavailability of foreign currency prize money that attracts foreign players meant less foreign players participated this year,’’ Mlilo said.
The absence of a huge group of foreigners saw the competition being held over just two days. Over the years, the Zimbabwe Open has lasted three days.
According to Mlilo, there were four Malawians and one Zambian that played this year. The expected large contingent of players from Nigerian, Zambian, Botswana and South African pulled out. Mlilo is of the view that despite the foreigners withdrawing, it did not diminish the commitment from the locals. He expressed his gratefulness to the coaches who continue to nurture talented youngsters.
“This (absence of foreigners) did not dampen the spirit of the Zimbabwe juniors who chose to shine and excel at the tournament. We are greatly indebted to our coaches who have done so well in their development programmes despite lack of sponsorship from the Government and the corporate world, the likes of Mashumba Mukumba, Ahmed Hassan, Admire Magwaza, Langton Gwidzima, Mike Lawton and others are saluted,’’ said Mlilo.
Harare-based Tayne Turnock at last pulled off what other Zimbabwean men have failed to do over the years by winning the top prize at the Safeguard Zimbabwe Open Squash Championships when he defeated Zambian Ken Mwape 3-0 in the final played last Saturday.
The 18-year-old, who came into the tournament seeded second behind the top ranked Mwape, swept aside a man 19 years his senior without much effort. He won the match 11-9, 11-7, 11-8 to claim top prize at this year’s competition. For his effort, Turnock went back to Harare with $1 100 with $440 being given to Mwape.
Polite Mubure won the women’s section with a 3-2 victory over Michelle Williams. Mubure pocketed $550 and Williams got $220. Neil Nesbitt and Mike Burns defeated Mwape, who teamed up with Michael Strydom in the doubles final. The reward for Burns and Nesbitt, the most successful doubles pairing in Zimbabwe was $820 while the losing finalists picked up $330.
Burns also got $550 for being the veterans champion, with a 3-0 triumph over Trust Siziba who got $220.
@Mdawini_29
