daniel chigunwe
Ellin Mhlanga
Zimpapers Sports Hub
Tennis Zimbabwe acting general manager Linsent Chitiyo is confident their junior tennis teams competing at the ITF/CAT Regionals in Windhoek, Namibia, will rise to the occasion.
The tournament, which caters for 14-and-Under and 16-and-Under categories, comes to life on Friday and runs until January 18.
TZ will be represented in both age groups by a 12-member team that was named yesterday.
The limelight will be on the likes of Rutendo Tom (14-and-Under girls), who had some outstanding moments in 2024, including claiming the ITF/CAT 14-and-Under African Junior Circuit Mozambique Leg 1 and Leg 2 singles and doubles titles.
Chanelle Zhuwakini, competing in the 16-and-Under girls, and Muchengeti Manzungu, representing the country in the 14-and-Under boys, will also be hoping to carry the momentum as they go into their first event of 2025.
The Regionals serve as a qualifier for the African Junior Championships (AJC) to be held later in the year.
“We are excited, and the team looks very strong. Looking at how the players have been participating previously in the continental or regional events, even at the national level, all our participants have been to the podium, both in singles and doubles.
“We anticipate that we have more of our players qualifying for the AJC, and we are not only looking forward to just the AJC team event and the singles events; we are also aiming to qualify especially for the World Junior teams for Under-14s and also the Junior Fed Cup and Billie Jean for the Under-16s.
“We anticipate that the same team that has been selected and that is representing us also stands higher chances of making it into the junior teams,” said Chitiyo.
Participants are expected to be in Namibia tomorrow, and most of Zimbabwe’s players are expected to leave for Namibia today.
Chitiyo said they are looking forward to a busy year with the regional, continental, and international events, in which they hope to have representation.
They are expecting to have players at the ITF/CAT Africa Junior Championships 18-and-Under in Cairo, Egypt, later this month.
Back home, Zimbabwe will host Morocco in the Davis Cup World Group II Play-offs tie on January 31 and February 1 at Harare Sports Club.
TZ is expecting to announce the team soon as they are finalising some logistics.
But their top players, Benjamin Lock and his young brother Courtney, and Mehluli Sibanda, have confirmed their availability.
The 12-and-Under have the regional tournament in March.
They also have the Billie Jean King Cup. The venue and dates will be announced in due course.
Zimbabwe will host the ITF 18-and-Under events in August and December. The events have become a permanent feature on the TZ calendar.
“It’s going to be a busy year for us, especially when you look at the first half of the year, where the majority of the qualifiers — that’s when they do happen.
“But as expected, and in our previous routines that we have always had, we are going to be hosting the same eight international events throughout the year.
“We also have the same 12 national events, which are provincial events, and we intend to improve in that area.
“And we are trying to push so much to then also have more activities in the seniors’ category,” Chitiyo said.
They are looking at capacitating their coaches through various programmes to improve the coaching standards locally.
Zimbabwe’s ITF/CAT Regionals Team:
14-and-Under Girls: Rutendo Tom, Emily George, Claire Majeye.
14-and-Under Boys: Muchengeti Manzungu, Joel Badza, Divine Kaliofasi.
16-and-under Girls: Chanelle Zhuwakini, Simphiwe Malunguza, Rutendo Mavhenyengwa.
16-and-Under Boys: Noah-Jnr Samushonga, Tendekai Msabaeka, Tadiwanashe Matambo.
Coaches: Terrence Mazungaire, Ethnie Chifamba.
Online Reporter
