Development tennis tournament a great success
Several talented young tennis players were in action at last week's Tshwane Development Tournament in Atteridgeville.
Local players impressed at the Tshwane Development Tournament played last week at Mpho Makhoba Tennis Precinct also known as Mbolekwa Sports Complex in Attridgeville.
The facility is the third of five Tennis South Africa (TSA) Growthpoint Development Centres to be launched in 2019. The first development centre was launched in Cape Town late last year, followed by the second centre in Soweto earlier this year.
The tournament, sponsored by Growthpoint Properties, Gauteng Department of Sports, Arts, Culture and Recreation and City of Tshwane saw over 150 players from 14 regions in Tshwane staging nail-biting action battling it out for honours.
This event was spearheaded by TSA Development Manager Mpho Makhoba, Growthpoint Head Coach Thabo Matlhaela and regional coaches to give players an opportunity to be competitive.
The top two players in each category (u.10, u.12, u.14, u.16 and u.18) will get an opportunity to take part in the Gauteng North Summer tournament to be staged in Groenkloof, Pretoria from 19-21 December 2018.
In the boys under 18 category, Hammanskraal’s Khanya Ranamane was the standout player of the day. He put up some great performances to take the top place with Bashimane Leshaba from Mamelodi in the second position.
Hammanskraal dominated in the category with Tshepang Chaane taking third position.
Meanwhile, another Hammanskraal player Angela Ndlovu came out guns blazing in the girls under 18 to take home victory. The second place went to Keitumetse Khwinana from Mamelodi. Mabopane’s Khulisile Themba, came in third.
Other notable categories were the boys and girls under 10, who also impressed.
The first place in the boys under 10 category went to Bokang Phahlamohlaka of Soshanguve. He edged past Mabopane’s Boikgantsho Matau and Kgaugelo Mosala from Soshanguve who had to settle for second and third respectively.
In the girls under 10, Lerato Mashaba from Attridgeville clinched the first position with Atlegang Mahlodi from Soshanguve taking the second place. Third position went to Oratile Mvila from Soshanguve.
Head Coach Matlhaela had nothing but praise about the athletes’ progress, who showed passion, enthusiasm and a great talent during the one-day event.
“It was exciting to see kids coming from all walks of Tshwane coming to showcase their talent. I only started working with the player in July this year and we have worked very hard. There are several promising up-and-coming players who are rapidly making the transition and should start playing tournament soon. They all have a good tennis foundation and should easily make the transition,” said Mathlaela, who has been coaching at the facility since it’s official launch in July this year.
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