The Sunday Mail
RISING female tennis ace, Rufaro Chirewa, a surprise inclusion in the Zimbabwe tennis team for the upcoming Africa Union Sports Council Region V Games, has vowed to justify her call-up.
The 16-year-old is the only local-based player in a four-member team which also has United States-based duo of Ronzai Saurombe and Taremeredzwa Mariga, as well as Valeria Bhunu, who is perfecting her art in South Africa.
Her inclusion, coupled with the omission of the highly-rated South Africa-based Nicole Dzenga, has sent tongues wagging in some circles and leaves the former Chisipite High student with a lot to prove.
“I always wanted to make it into the team but in my mind there were other good players like Nicole (Dzenga). So I was a bit surprised, but the idea of representing my country motivates me more because I don’t want to let anyone down,” said Chirewa, soon after the announcement of Team Zimbabwe last week.
Two hundred and twenty-four athletes will represent the country at the Region V Games set to light up the City of Kings from December 4 to 14.
Just the thought of being one the chosen ones is driving Chirewa as she hopes to use the Games as a stepping stone to greater glory.
“It is good that I will have more exposure and play older opponents. At the moment I am getting back into my groove, focusing more on endurance and staying longer on the court,” she said.
While the level of competition is expected to be high at the Games, Chirewa is no stranger to tough tournaments having featured at several continental meets.
However, the bubbly tennis protégée expressed concern at being unable to take part in preparatory tournaments like other athletes ahead of the youth games jamboree.
Chirewa has intensified her programme which sees her on the tennis court for six hours daily.
“With this heat you can imagine what Bulawayo should be like, weather-wise. So I need to be able to adjust to any condition, prove myself and see how far I can go.”
And for a girl who admires Serbian professional and men’s world number one tennis player, Novak Djokovic, Chirewa naturally wants to perfect power and tact.
“I hope to control my emotions because the moment you step onto the courts you begin to think of how hard you have worked, what your coach, your parents have put in. And I do not want to put all that work to waste,” she said.
