SRE Padel leagues off to competitive start at Bendor
The first week of SRE Padel's new leagues at Bendor delivered competitive matches, with over R20 000 in prizes up for grabs in the ladies' league.
POLOKWANE – The first week of the city’s newest padel leagues hosted by SRE Padel has already delivered a taste of the battles expected at Bendor Padel over the next 10 weeks, with the ladies and men wasting little time finding their competitive edge.
Ladies league on Tuesdays
Tuesday evenings now belong to the ladies, with eight teams contesting the Premier Resources Ladies Padel League over an 11-week campaign.
More than R20 000 in prizes is at stake, ensuring that every point could prove valuable when the final standings are decided.
SRE Padel’s Ernest Faver said the opening round showed that the teams were not there simply to make up the numbers.
“The first week was very competitive, and you could already see that the ladies have come to play. There were some close games and some clever tactical play, particularly when teams had to stay patient and work the point rather than rush for the winner,” said Faver.
Partnerships key
He said the partnerships would be an interesting factor as the league progresses.
“Padel is very much about how two players work together, and I think we are going to see teams improve as they get more comfortable with each other. One good week doesn’t win you a league, so consistency is going to be key.”
Men’s league underway
Wednesday and Thursday nights have brought the men onto court for the CFAO Mobility Toyota Limpopo Men’s League, with R15 000 going to the eventual winning team.
Sarel van Rooyen said the opening matches suggested the competition would be closely fought.
“The men’s league got off to a strong start, and there was very little between some of the teams. The scores reflected how competitive the matches were, with players having to work hard for every point,” said Van Rooyen.
Room for improvement
He said the opening round had also exposed areas for players to improve.
“You can see who is prepared to construct a point and who is looking for the quick finish. As the league goes on, the players will start reading each other better, and that is when the matches should become even more interesting.”
No clear favourite yet
With another 10 weeks ahead, neither league has produced a clear runaway contender.
For the ladies, the R20 000-plus prize pool is motivation enough; for the men, the R15 000 prize comes with the added reward of bragging rights.
