Dzuwa’s birthday wish

Sport
Tennis player Martin Dzuwa believes he still has what it takes to compete at the highest level.

Tennis player Martin Dzuwa believes he still has what it takes to compete at the highest level after bouncing back as a playing captain for next month’s Davis Cup Euro/Africa Zone Group III matches.

Report by Albert Marufu

The tournament which sees top two nations gaining promotion to Euro/Africa Zone Group II in 2014, runs from May 13 to 18 at Egypt’s Smash Tennis Academy.

Dzuwa, who is now into coaching and turns 35 two days before the tournament, had initially been named as the team’s non-playing captain, but his status changed after the pulling out of Mbonisi Ndimande, due to academic commitments.

The other members of the team are Takanyi Garanganga, Tinotenda Chanakira and Mark Fynn.

Dzuwa, a former Davis Cup player, hopes to use the experience gained in his previous stints with the team to the team’s advantage.

“I have been coaching, but I am also practising. We still have a month to prepare so I think we will be okay. We stand a good chance of being promoted. Last year we finished in the semi-finals and I think we should do well this year. The other thing is that we should go early. I also hope to win so that I celebrate my birthday in style,” said Dzuwa.

Tennis Zimbabwe (TZ) president, Regis Bhunu, said Dzuwa’s experience would complement the youthful talents of Chanakira, Fynn and Garanganga.

“Dzuwa, who has been a member of the Davis Cup team in the past, is now the team’s playing captain, after we failed to secure some of the players who are on scholarships. He is fit because besides coaching, he has recently been participating in some tournaments,” he said.

“I am happy that players such as Garanganga, Chanakira and Fynn have all confirmed their participation in the tournament. I am appealing to the corporate world to help us in raising the money for the players to camp for at least a week at the match venue to acclimatise.”

The tournament will be played on a round robin basis, with top nations in pools A and B drawn to play off against top nations in pools C and D.

Countries that will battle it out for the two slots are Algeria, Botswana, Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire, Egypt, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Madagascar, Morocco, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Meanwhile, the Harare Junior Tennis Open has been slated for April 18 to 21 at Harare Sports Club.

The tournament’s coordinator Dzuwa said they are expecting a number of entries because the tournament will help the players to earn points that will enable them to compete at the Africa Junior Championships.