The ManicaPost
Ray Bande
Senior Reporter
MANICALAND’S flagship tennis outfit, Mantas Academy is racing against time to raise financial resources needed to have three of its players join their colleagues from Harare and Bulawayo for the AJC African Junior Championships in Egypt.
Each of the trio require US$1 000 for them to travel to Egypt.
The AJC Tournament in Egypt helps local tennis players gain more points for international rankings and participation in more prestigious international competitions.
12-year-old Tendekai Msabaeka of Chancellor Junior School, Tinotenda Chipfakacha (13) of Mutare Girls’ High School and Thandiwe Nkala (13) of Princeton Institute are expected to partake in the AJC African Junior Championships in Egypt.
The competition kicks off on March 22 and ends on March 27.
They will have a warm-up tournament in the north African country starting on March 17.
Tendekai Msabaeka
Even though Mantas are organising a fundraising programme for the three starting with a tournament scheduled for March 11 to 13, the academy’s administrator-cum head coach, Vincent Nyatoti appealed to well-wishers and corporate partners to chip in with financial assistance.
“This is an opportunity for these youngsters to compete at the highest level in tennis on the continent. It is something that they should not miss if we are serious about developing the game of tennis in the country.
“However, lack of sponsorship is a major challenge to them. They require US$1 000 each to partake in this tournament. As Mantas, we will have a competition to raise funds for them to be able to participate in the AJC African Junior Championships in Egypt. However, we also appeal to corporate partners and well-wishers to chip in with assistance,” said Nyatoti.
Team Zimbabwe for the AJC African Junior Championships is made up of the three from Mutare and five players from Harare and Bulawayo.
