The Sunday News
Ngqwele Dube Sports Correspondent
THE Matabeleland Schools Tennis team will hold its final practice session today as they prepare for a national event in Harare. The girls’ team coach Thesley Mufunda said they have been taking to the courts for the past four weeks and they would be fine tuning their act today as they seek to upstage Harare in the finals that will run from Friday until Sunday.
The schools national tourney will provide the opportunity for Zimbabwe to select players for a squad that will represent the country at an annual South African schools tournament scheduled towards the end of March.
“We have done much of the practise and we will be putting final touches on Sunday (today) as we aiming at getting better of Harare who made it ahead of us last year,” said Mufunda.
“I think we have a strong team that can come up with the results and ensure we take pole position this year.”
Last year Bulawayo took second position in the Under-15 section while the Under-19 team was fourth.
The boys’ team coach Artwell Mutape said he had confidence in his players and they have been giving all their efforts in the court.
The girls’ team has been training at Girls College under the watchful eyes of Mufunda, Adam Joelson, Nomvelo Ngwenya and Raggs Chikunichawa-Joelson while Matape has been taking care of the boys training sessions at Petra High School.
Other provinces expected to take part in the tourney include Harare, Mashonaland West, Mashonaland East, Manicaland and Midlands.
Mufunda said the provinces will be grouped into teams with players taking on each other on a round robin basis.
“It is a team event and teams that don’t do well will be knocked out. However, selection will not be based on solely the winning teams as others who perform well will also be included in the team that will travel to South Africa,” he said
