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Leonard Ncube Victoria Falls Reporter
UNRANKED Victoria Falls wheelchair tennis player Shepherd Banda, 19, shone in South Africa where he won the 2015 Pretoria Open Men’s B category title.

The men’s singles tournament, which was organised by South Africa Wheelchair Tennis, ended on Saturday.

Banda beat South African Jooste Pieter 6-1, 6-1 in the final to lift the trophy.

On the road to the final, Banda dismissed two South Africans, Thato Ramashia 6-3, 6-3 in the last 16 knockout stage and Mpho Mhloye 6-2, 6-4 in the quarter-final.

In the semi-final, the Zimbabwean beat Ghanaian Boateng Emmanuel Yan 6-1, 6-0 to set a date with Pieter.

After his Pretoria open victory, Banda then entered the Soweto Open in which he played against some top ranked players.

In the first round, Banda beat Romanian Filisan Stancu, who is ranked 347th in the world, 7-6, 2-6, 6-4 to progress to the second round where he bowed out of the tournament after losing 0-6, 1-6, against Australian Oh-Chee Keegan.

South African Leon Els, who is ranked 42nd in the world, beat Keegan to win the Soweto Open.

Another Zimbabwean Nyasha Mharakurwa was bundled out in the second round by South African Marsh Marshal, who beat him in straight sets 6-1, 6-1.

Banda has been invited to three other tournaments in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa later this year and said the two tournaments provided good preparations for him.

“This was a good opportunity because that’s where they select players for the Paralympics. However, I’m facing serious challenges in terms of rackets, wheelchairs and funds to travel to such tournaments. I’m grateful to my manager because he used his own money in addition to what we got from Victoria Falls well-wishers,” said Banda.

His manager Walter Ndlovu appealed to the corporate world to help Banda realise his dreams.

“We’ve financial challenges but we would want to thank those that helped in funding our travel and upkeep. He’s supposed to go for other tournaments later in the year and we’re appealing for more assistance,” said Ndlovu.