Banda joins Sadc team for 2015 Africa Junior Tennis tourney

Mzuzu-based tennis star Ramesh Banda is set to join the Southern Africa squad on August 26 in Johannesburg ahead of this year’s Africa Junior Tennis Championship scheduled to take place in Morocco early September.

The Under-12 tennis starlet is the only junior Malawian selected for the Southern Africa tennis team having impressed at this year’s Junior Circuit Championship in Botswana where he got a medal.

While confirming about the issue, Lawn Tennis Association of Malawi (Ltam) general secretary Christopher Kachali said the development is significant because it will increase Malawi’s chances of producing professional tennis players.

“This is a good development and opportunity for both the country and player. This will also encourage more young players because they will know that tennis has more opportunities,” said Kachali.

According to Kachali, the Southern Africa team will compete with other regional continental teams such as North Africa, Central Africa, Eastern Africa and West Africa.

Kachali said if Banda impresses during the tournament, he stands a chance of winning a scholarship to study at the High Performance Centre in Morocco where Chisomo Lumeta is.

Meanwhile, Banda has intensified his preparations for the continental tournament.

“I want to play in the big tournaments like players such as Roger Federer,” he said when interviewed at his training base, Mzuzu Golf Club. n