RSA juniors shine in ITF/CAT team championship
Tennis
The 2024 International Tennis Federation (ITF) and the Confederation of African Tennis (CAT) Southern Africa junior teams championship concluded in Windhoek yesterday.The South African U14 and U16 teams continued their exceptional performances in the individual championship, finishing overall first ahead of Zimbabwe (second) and Botswana (third).
The championships (individual and teams) were held in two age groups at the Central Tennis Club courts from 10 to 14 January in Olympia, in conjunction with the Namibia Tennis Association (NTA) and its main sponsor Paratus Namibia.
South Africa reigned supreme in the under-16 category. The boys’ team of John Bothman, Connor Doig and Nhlakanipho Ngwenya beat the Mozambique team of Edilson Jose Rosa, Eric Siguaque and Noe Jemusse with a 2-0 score to claim the overall title.
The Namibian boys secured seventh place.
UNDER-16 GIRLS
The dominant South African U16 girls’ team of Morgan Jordaan, Alegra van der Walt and Loawabo Majeke won all their matches in the round-robin format. Their final match was against the Botswana team of Mbali Qame, Bashali Phatshwane and Retabile Mohoa, which they won 3-0.
“It feels great to finally hold the overall winners’ trophy, as we unfortunately lost to Madagascar last year. Congratulations to the girls for fighting so hard,” said South Africa’s U16 girls’ coach Ilze Hattingh.
The Namibian girls secured third place to get the bronze medals.
UNDER-14 GIRLS
The under-14 girls’ category saw the Zimbabwe team of Rutendo Tom, Kuzivaishe Chapepa and Akeelah Khanye claim the overall title by beating the South African team of Jordan Edwards, Charlotte Bouwer and Nikilitha Ndugane with a 2-0 score.
“Finishing second in the whole of Southern Africa feels really great. I would like to thank the NTA for hosting this wonderful and successful event,” said Zimbabwe’s U14 coach Terrence Mazungaire.
Namibia’s girls secured the fifth place.
UNDER-14 BOYS
The SA U14 boys team again displayed dominance as Jamie Roux, Eathan Pieber and Liyema Mancoba claimed the overall title against Botswana’s Tinashe Phatshwane, Martin Seetso and Marcus Simane with a 2-0 score.
The Namibian boys secured seventh place.