The Sunday Mail
THE country’s top tennis seed Ronzai Saurombe had the pace, stamina and endurance as he powered into the quarter-finals of the ongoing African Union Sports Council Region 5 Under-20 Youth Games.
In his first match, Saurombe filleted South African Musawenkosi Mponde 6-3, 7-6 in a tie that lasted 33 minutes, the longest in the opening round of matches at the Bulawayo Athletics Club.
Another tennis ace, Valerie Bhunu proved how exceptional she can be at such high profile competitions in the girls’ category.
Bhunu beat Angola’s top seed Jucelzina Mulemba 6-0, 6-0.
Bhunu is no stranger in reaching the finals both on the local and regional circuit and her jaunty mood in the interview room afterwards suggested that she is only just warming to the task.
Rufaro Chirewa, Zimbabwe’s third seed, had it easy in the first day.
She was awarded a walkover after Lesotho’s Mpho Kotze failed to pitch up.
Zimbabwe’s fourth representative Taremedzwa Mariga made light work on Malawi’s Chpangano Sandukira.
Mariga beat the Malawian in straight sets 6-0, 6-0.
Linsent Chitiyo, the home team’s manager, was upbeat and said everything went according to plan.
“This is what we have been saying in our preparations. The goal has not been reached but we are on course to get a gold medal. For a start this was good.
“At least all our players got to shake off the fear as we won the opening games. This is what we all anticipated. The challenge was a tough one. It is hoped that in the quarter-final stage we will improve on where we lack,” he said.
Results:
Boys: T Mariga (Zim) beat C Sandukira 6-0, 6-0; A Vundu (Angola) beat Kukukla Motlojoa (Lesotho) 6-2, 6-2; T Theron ( Namibia) beat E Mabhechu 6-4, 0-6, 6-1;R Saurombe (Zim) beat M Mponde (SA) 6-3, 7-6; A Nahveni (Moz) beat L Lumbeta (Zam) 1-6, 6-1, 6-2) F Kellerman (SA) beat K Amon (Nam) 6-2, 6-0; L Chisoma (Mal) beat B Dosantos (Moz) 6-0, 6-0
Girls: R Chirewa (Zim) walkover on M Kotze (Les); I Longwe (Zam) beat W Kadaminanja (Mal) 6-1, 6-0; P Ruele (Bots) beat A Engena (Ang) 6-0, 6-0; P Katle (SA) beats D Dacosta (Moz) 6-0, 6-0; V Bhunu (Zim) beat J Mulemba (Ang) 6-0, 6-0.
