The Sunday Mail
HE is not only the first black Zimbabwean to play in the Davis Cup, Gwinyai Tongoona is also one of the two most highly qualified local tennis coaches in the country today.
Tongoona is the new Davis Cup team captain, holding a level three ITF coaching certificate, something only Freeman Nyamunokora can relate to.
The 43-year-old Tongoona is excited by his new job, which he regards as a passion.
“It’s an honor to be able to represent Zimbabwe as always,” he said.
“I’m looking forward to the challenge and hopefully we can pull off some good results,” said the new captain, who replaces Martin Dzuwa.
“I’m passionate about tennis and I want to see tennis in Zimbabwe on the world map.
“I’ve been coaching for the past 11 years or so and I’ve worked with players of different levels.
“I’m hoping that I can have a positive impact on local tennis having moved back to Zimbabwe.
“Coaching is not just a job for me, I love what I do and I do it with passion,” he said.
He is looking forward to his first assignment against Turkey at home in a Europe/ Africa Zone Group II tie slated for February.
“There are things to look at before we are fully prepared.
“I have to know what everyone is doing and who is available.
“The college guys have to confirm availability for the tie and so does Benjamin and Takanyi.
“Like I said, it’s a big honour to be able to wear national colours again and I think I can have a positive impact on the team.
“I look forward to working with the team and hopefully I can help them with the matches they shall play.
“Maybe they can take some of the work we do together and get good results, be it on the tour or back at college.”
He added: “If we have a full team, we can get the good results we want.
“The guys on the team are all still improving and working hard so who knows how good they’ll be in future,” he said.
Tongoona has been also working with juniors and he reiterated that he is fully equipped for his new role.
“I was team captain in 2009 . . . when we went to Greece I was playing captain.
“I was approached by tennis Zimbabwe about being captain in 2018 and I believe I can do the job so I didn’t need anyone to convince me to take the job.
“I coached at the ITF training Center in Pretoria since 2007 and I completed my level three certificate in 2010 in Spain,” he said.
What memories does he hold from his playing days?
“My time as a junior winning the Mashonaland Senior Open were memorable after causing upsets against senior players in the quarter- finals, semis and finals. I was then selected into the Davis Cup team for the first time in 1991, the first black player to make the team.”
