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Innocent Kurira, Sports Reporter
VETERAN tennis coach Khumbulani Tembo says he will use his appointment as a committee member of the Bulawayo Metropolitan Tennis Board (BMTB) to push for the revival and development of the game in the city, participants in the western suburbs.

Tembo is the administrator of Tomasik Tennis Academy and has coached players such as Nicole Kumwenda, Hillary Ncube and Bukale Mukombwe, who all secured tennis scholarships to the United States of America.

Other members of the BMTB executive include chairman Tarwirwa Chikunichiwa, Thesly Mufunda (vice-chairman), Alice Masoha )secretary-general), Chaps Manyowa )treasurer) and committee members Witness Jiyane, Zebediah Mawisire, Petros Ndhlovu and Johanne Marufu.

They were ushered into office a fortnight ago.

“It is an honour to serve the game that I love and I am pleased that l have been trusted with this task. My dream is to see the development of tennis in Bulawayo. From now on the work to improve the standards of the game in the city begins,” said Tembo.

Elections of the new executive were, however, marred by controversy with allegations of ineligible individuals being allowed to vote after some members had called for leadership renewal.

However, Tennis Zimbabwe (TZ) president Biggie Magarira said board member Gloria Gijima, who observed the elections, had not reported irregularities.

According to the 2021 TZ calendar, Bulawayo is scheduled to host the Bulawayo Juniors Open, the Tarryn-Leigh De Souza Memorial and Bulawayo Closed tournaments.

The province will also play host to the International Tennis Federation Under-18 tournaments in May. – @innocentskizoe