Locals struggle at Zimbabwe Open Squash Championship

LOCAL men once again found the going tough at the Safeguard Zimbabwe Open Squash Championship with the top prize going the way of Nigerian Sodiq Taiwo at Suburbs Squash Club last Sunday.

Ever since the country’s premier event was revived by the Matabeleland Squash Association in 2004 and held in Bulawayo, foreigners have taken turns to walk away with the men’s title. Taiwo defeated his compatriot Olanrewaju Abulrahaman 3-2 in a closely contested final.

From 2004 up to 2015, the men’s champion had come from Zambia with South Africa Christo Potgieter putting an end to that when he was the winner last year. With Potgieter not being able to defend his title due after being named to represent South Africa in an international competition, a new champion was to be crowned.

Just to show how much Zimbabwean men found the going tough, the top four positions went to foreigners. Admire Magwaza was the best placed Zimbabwean at the tournament in position five. Magwaza is the country’s number two men’s player with South Africa based Blessing Muhwati the best.

Muhwati, the winner of this year’s Zimbabwe Closed did not come for the Zimbabwe Open which left Magwaza with the task of preventing the top prize from going outside the country, something which he failed to achieve.

Squash Racquets Association of Zimbabwe chairman Lucky Mlilo believes that local male players need to get exposure in regional as well as international competitions in order for them to improve.

“We need to ensure that our players get exposure by playing in regional and international tournaments such as PSA. We are working with potential sponsors to enable upcoming youngsters like Ryan Gwidzima and Polite Mubure to participate in tournaments like the British Juniors Open. Junior development is key to squash success. Resuscitation of squash court at schools will help to develop squash, all these need funding,’’ said Mlilo.

Taiwo walked away with a trophy accompanied by $1 000 while Abulrahaman took home $500. Yvonne Mubure of Harare lost 3-0 to Nigerian Yemisi Olatunji in the women’s final. Her young sister Polite caused the biggest upset of the tournament when she beat Busayo Olatunji. The 15-year old, a Form Three pupil at Girls’ High School in Harare was seeded in the tournament while the 19-year old Nigerian was the second seed.

Jeffrey Fenwick fought back from two games down to overcome last year’s winner Freddy Chishimba of Zambia 3-2 in the veterans final. Neil Nesbitt with his playing partner Mike Burns, winners of the doubles from 2004 up to 2015 until they were beaten by Potgieter and Jimmy Schlebusch last year were back to their winning ways. Nesbitt and Burns saw off the challenge of Matthew Mulaji as well as Janeel Giga with a 3-2 triumph.

Eleven year old Ryan Gwidzima showed that the future of the game in the country was in safe hands when he defeated 16-year old Brighton Nyakabawo in the plate final.

Minister of Sport and Recreation Makhosini Hlongwane witnessed the men and women’s finals but had to leave due to other commitments before presenting the prizes. Mlilo expressed his gratitude with the support they are getting from Hlongwane who was present at the tournament last year where he handed out the accolades.

“The support from the Honourable Minister is very valuable and we really appreciated it. It has really added value to the tournament,’’ said Mlilo.

With most companies shelving their support for sport due to the tough economic environment prevailing in the country, Safeguard have stuck with squash with the relationship between the security firm and the sport dating back to 2011 when they became the title sponsors.

“We continue to be grateful for the sponsorship from Safeguard, especially in these harsh economic times where most companies have shelved ideas of channelling any funds to sports,’’ Mlilo said.

The Safeguard Zimbabwe Open Squash Championship might be done and dusted but it will be remembered as yet another event where local males found the going tough against foreigners. It is yet to be seen whether there will be any change in fortune for local men come next year’s tournament.