Story by Raynald Ngwarati
THE Zimbabwe junior national tennis team is ready to battle against the continent’s powerhouses at the African Junior Teams Championship (AJTC) Under-14 tournament which kicks off this Monday in Cairo, Egypt.
The team has set its eyes on conquering the Egyptian terrain to clinch a qualification ticket to the 2025 ITF World Junior Tennis Competition.
The team is part of eight nations set to wrestle for the qualification slot in a round-robin format, going toe to toe with big names like Morocco, South Africa, Tunisia, and hosts Egypt.
Speaking to the ZBC News on their departure this Saturday, the team members expressed their desire to make history for the country.
“We have a balanced and strong team. I believe my teammates and I are ready to give it our all, lift our national flag high, and make history. Since we won our zonal qualifiers, we believe we can go all the way and secure a place at the World Cup,” a team member stated.
The president of Tennis Zimbabwe, Walter Jera, emphasised the significance of the tournament, noting it as a critical foundation towards the restoration of the sport’s former glory in the country.
“This competition is vital because it’s a qualifier for the World Junior Tennis competition, which then leads to the world group. Just getting to this stage is a remarkable achievement. Credit must go to the players and the parents who continue to support them.”
Tennis Zimbabwe has adopted a strong grassroots policy tailored to groom future tennis stars who will raise the standards of the sport in the country.
The likes of Tadiwa Mauchi, Sasha Chimedza and Benedict Badza to mention only a few are part of the upcoming stars that have risen through the ranks to represent the country in the Billie Jean Cup and the Davis Cup.
