Eastern Cape tennis star off to Cape Town academy
Buffalo City and Eastern Cape junior tennis star Mbali Ndlabhu is set to continue the upward trend in his career after being accepted at the Anthony Harris Tennis Academy in Cape Town.
This came after he successfully came through a trial from October 9-20 to assess his suitability to be part of the academy, both from a tennis and academic perspective.
Ndlabhu, who attended St Christopher’s school, comes from the rural village of Libode and, at the age of 13 years, has already made a name for himself on the national tennis circuit.
From 2020 to 2023, he was invited to participate in the prestigious national tennis Junior Masters, which features the top eight players in each age-group.
Ndlabhu participated in the U12 and U14 divisions.
The Anthony Harris Tennis Academy is a high performance academy, with a maximum attendance of 30 players.
It not only focuses on tennis but also adopts a holistic approach, which includes fitness and academics.
Top players to have come through the academy include Lloyd Harris, Isabella and Zoe Kruger, and Kholo Montsi.
The Match Foundation, in collaboration with the academy, made it possible for Ndlabhu and other disadvantaged players to participate in tennis on an international level.
Another top junior from the Eastern Cape, Oluhle Senti, has been at the academy for three years in is making a name for himself on the junior ITF circuit.
The main pathway for players who form part of the tennis academy is to participate in the International Tennis Junior Federation Tournaments (ITF), with the possibility of furthering their education and careers at an American university.
Ndlabhu is a member of the Destiny Tennis Club, which has produced top juniors such as Sisipho Ndlabhu, Nikhil Naidoo and Lonwabo Majeke.
He has represented the Eastern
Cape at interprovincials and in 2021 was selected for the SA Primary Schools U13 team which toured the US.
Ndlabhu left for Cape Town on January 7, and will be at the academy from grade 8 to grade 12.
On departing from East London, he was excited to take up the challenge and give his best, both on the tennis court and on the academic front.
Ndlabhu attributes his success to his uncle, Shoes Ndlabhu, who introduced him to tennis, and Avela Ndlabhu, who spent many hours on the tennis court coaching him.
The Destiny Tennis Club was proud of his achievements and said they wished him well.