Zambia’s top player and winner of the 2015 Acacia Open international tennis tournament, Edgar Kazembe, is happy the Dar es Salaam Gymkhana Club (DGC) incorporated wheelchair players.
The four-day competition held at the DGC courts brought together top players from different African countries and local wheelchair players battled it out for two days.
The successful wheelchair event was sponsored by one of DGC’s members, Alex Sarac of IMMMA Advocates. Kazembe said he was encouraged a lot to see wheelchair tennis players during the tournament and that gave him so much to think about.
The Acacia Open champion said it was a good experienced for him to see people with disabilities given a chance to participate in the sport like other players.
“You know, when I see them playing, I look at myself and ask, ‘who I am … is that because of God,’” he wondered. Kazembe added that he got a very good lesson from the tournament he would take to his country. “I plan to take this good thing (wheelchair tennis) to my country and try to do the same,” he said.
“I want to salute wheelchair coach (Riziki Salum) for a job well done,” he added. DGC is doing a good job in developing wheelchair tennis and captain Sanjay Chokshi said his club has planned several wheelchair tournaments and they are happy the players are also doing well.
Novatus Temba emerged the wheelchair tennis champion in the men’s category, while Rehema Selemani triumphed in the ladies series. Rehema, who completed her O-level studies at Jangwani Secondary School last year, told the ‘Daily News’ she aims to perform wonders in the game.
“I want to do well on the big stage, I’m happy to get this opportunity and I put lots of personal effort to realise my dream, the coach also helps a lot,” she said.
By MBONILE BURTON, Tanzania Daily News