The Sunday News
Ngqwele Dube, Sports Correspondent
JUNIOR tennis players troop in to the Bulawayo Country Club tomorrow morning as they take part in the first international tourney to be hosted by Zimbabwe this year.
Tennis Zimbabwe administrator, Cliff Nhokorwa said the International Tennis Federation South Central Under-18 Zim Leg 1 will give players a chance to get international points.
He said the tournament is crucial to local players as they seek points. The tournament will be followed by two other similar events in Harare.
Top seed, Ethan Sibanda (16) said he has got his eye on the top prize and is ready to perform at his best despite having played his last match eight months ago, when he played in the Davis Cup.
He said being the top seed puts huge expectation on him to clinch the tournament.
“Going into this tournament as the top seed means the pressure is on me to win the tournament.
“I have been training for the past six weeks, I believe I am in a god frame to win the tourney but I will obviously have to be wary of the other players and ensure I am at my best,” said Sibanda.
His young brother, Mengesi Sibanda (13), who is the 12th seed, said he is looking forward to be back in the court after a nine-month hiatus.
He said despite the break due the Covid-19 pandemic he felt ready to take on his opponents.
Players are coming from all over the world, with Taona Mhwandagara being the third seed while Tinashe Taruberekera is seeded fourth.
Thompson Thomu (18) is the sixth seed while among foreigners in the top 10 include there is Kenya’s Jason Mbogoro wjo is second, Isralite, Itay Bity is fifth.
South Africans, Marshal Hullet and Benjamin Scott are seventh and eighth respectively.
