Local up-and-coming tennis star, Sibusiso Jiyane, a protegé under the watchful eye of local coach, Dumisani Qwabe, is set to take NKZN by storm this year.
Despite playing tennis for only four years, Sibusiso’s natural flair for the sport has landed him a spot in the NKZN B team and as a reserve for the NKZN A team.

This also guaranteed him a position as one of the top eight tennis player’s in NKN.

“I still need to work hard to get into the KZN team,” he said. At only 19-years-old, Sibusiso, who is a grade 11 student at Talana High School, also has big dreams for his future in tennis of one day playing in the national team.

“I look up to Rafael Nadal. He is my favourite player,” he enthused.

This young star also has other hidden talents. According to his brother, Sicelokuhle Jiyane, who is also a tennis player, Sibusiso is an incredible cook and baker. “I’m studying tourism and I would love to also be a chef one day,” he added with a smile.
Sibusiso and Dumisani Qwabe meet three times a week at the Dundee Tennis Club to practice. Born and bred in Dundee, Dumisani is a local stalwart, especially in Sibongile Township where he has been coaching for over 15 years.

Currently, he is coaching 17 children ranging from 11 years to 19-years-of-age from the location. “I groom them from a young age,’ he said. Dumisani taught himself to play tennis from a young age by watching the likes of Boris Becker and Pete Sampras on TV.”Unfortunately, I did not make it far,” he added.

His dream is to recruit more players and to buy more equipment but it is difficult without a sponsor which would ‘make things easier’. “I love the game – tennis is my life”. Dumisani is also an FNB teller and lives in Sibongile with his sisters’ children.