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Lovemore Zigara Midlands Sports Correspondent
THE Midlands Tennis Board (MTB) is hosting a two-day coaching clinic for teachers at Bata Sports Club. It started yesterday and ends today and is part of a series of clinics which are meant to equip teachers with tennis coaching ideas.

MTB chairman, Stanley Rudhu said his board decided to hold coaching clinics after realising that schools were not eager to hire qualified tennis coaches, a situation which compromised the quality of tennis players being churned out.

“We have done a lot to spread the sport across the province and we are happy that a lot of children are taking the sport up. However, the major challenge is that there are no quality players that are coming out despite the natural talent in some of the kids.

“This is because the schools are reluctant to hire qualified tennis coaches a situation which does not augur well with player development. The coaching clinic will therefore equip teachers with tennis coaching skills which I believe will go a long way in developing the sport in the province,” Rudhu said.

The coaching clinic in Gweru is being attended by 11 teachers a turnout which Rudhu described as “disappointing” considering the number of schools in the Midlands capital which has the sporting discipline on its curriculum.

Kwekwe will hold a similar coaching clinic from November 26-27 at Kwekwe Sports Club.

Meanwhile, the provincial tennis board has started the seeding process for players and tournaments have been lined up for this process.

Rudhu said the provincial board target is to have at least five players in the among the top seeds in the country by the end of next year.