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Nkosilathi Sibanda , [email protected]

LOCAL tennis administrators have bemoaned the deplorable state of Emakhandeni Tennis Courts.

They believe it is derailing developmental projects meant to uplift the game in Bulawayo.

The outcry has been there for quite some time, as the two courts in the suburb have not been attended to for a decade. There are visible cracks on the surface, a situation that makes it difficult for players to even do effective training sessions.

This has got coaches and administrators worried.

The last time the courts were attended to, was in 2014, when the country played host to the Africa Union Sports Council under-20 Youth Games. The facelift on the courts surface was done by the Zimbabwe National Roads Administration (Zinara).

Owing to the dilapidated state of the courts now, the Emakhandeni Tennis Club has failed to host tournaments in their home ground, opting to use the Bulawayo Athletic Club (BAC) facilities.

Tennis Zimbabwe selector, Thesly Mufunda, who is also a coach and administrator, told Zimpapers Sports Hub that Emakhandeni tennis courts needed urgent attention given that they are key in talent development.

“We are concerned at the state of Emakhandeni Tennis Club courts. The facility is one that we have for long relied on in terms of talent identification and development in the western suburbs. So many of our players have come through Emakhandeni and we wouldn’t want to just stare and not raise concern,” said Mufunda.

Emakhandeni Tennis Club director, Witness Jiyane, said they have endured a difficult time trying to force training sessions on the sub-standard courts.

Jiyane said they now have no choice, but to host the annual Emakhandeni Tennis Club Invitational tournament at BAC.

“Our courts are in bad shape and we had to move to BAC, which somehow disadvantages players from the high-density suburbs. We host our tournaments at BAC also because our courts cannot accommodate the large number of players that participate at the tournament.

“What worries us as the Bulawayo Metropolitan Tennis Board is that the players, even if they train there, are not being afforded the right environment to play tennis,” said Jiyane.

He said they are appealing to the business sector and the Bulawayo City Council to intervene in renovating the courts.

“As a club we would like to appeal to the corporate sector to assist so that we can host tournaments at Emakhandeni tennis courts. We want to empower players in the neighbourhood and have them appreciate that tennis is a game that can uplift lives for the better. By doing so, we also encourage would-be players to live the game and discover hidden talent,” he  said.

A parent whose child trains at Emakhandeni, Precious Ncube, said it was high time that authorities gave attention to the courts.

“My child trains there under the supervision of her coaches. I have been there and I must say the courts are not in a good state. The coaches do their best to groom our kids, but they are worried as well. Something has to be done,” she said.

What makes the Emakhandeni Tennis Club courts topical is that the facility gave birth to a number of talented players who went on to play overseas, representing the country on the international stage.

Among the players are the late Dumiso Khumalo, who at one time was ranked highly in the International Tennis Federation (ITF) players standings.
Khumalo plied his trade in Spain at a young age at the Barcelona Tennis Centre, before he returned home to take on coaching.

Others were Fadzai Madzimbamuto, Gloria Mpala, Noel Wadawu, Matthew Gumbo and Nqobilizwe Bhebhe.-@NkosieLegend.