BY:Kabelo Seleka
GABORONE:Botswana’s double impact duo at the ongoing AUSC region 5 youth games held in Gaborone,
Tshegofatso Tsiang and Leungo Mannawo did it again,this time better and tougher as they entertained the crowd by winning Beverly Matsiwe and Munashe Kaume of Zimbabwe 6-2,4-6,10-8 to campaign for the tourneys gold medal today in Notwane Courts.
The 8th edition of region 5 games tennis competition semi finals potted together Botswana and Zimbabwean ladies after an easy route by the local girls as the walloped the unexposed and inexperienced Malawian side.
The walk in the park match was an easy one for the girls as they dominated every aspect of the game.The tough Zimbabwean competitors came in to the semis after beating past Namibian counterparts parts Megan Lombart and Bronwnye by 6-1,6-0.
Tsiang and Mannayo started the match inpluck and thrown in the hat to win 4 games consecutively with the assistance of the 3rd man on the stand.In the second half of the first set the Zimbabweans started to find their rhythm to finally win the 6th game.
The local girls were under an immense pressure though they won the first 4 games.The set finally came to an end with a score of 6-2 to Botswana.In the second set the local girls started slow to find themselves led by 3-1 game.
A magical set from both teams as they brought their A game.The match was finally a tie of which Botswana won on points 10-8 coming from behind.
Kaume says that they started slow because they had not find their rhythm just yet.She says towards the end of the match the crowd was getting into their nerves to give home girls a win in a tough game which could have gone either way.
The winning team says it was a more competitive match and thanks to the home supporters that they managed to pull it through.The 6-2,4-6,10-8 win by Tsiang and Mannayo will tie them in the tourneys competition finals with South Africa’s number one seeded Ntokozo Zungu and Deien Kleinhans tomorrow.
In other exciting matches,Zimbabwe’s Tanaka Chapata and Mehluli Sibanda qualified to the finals after winning Tshepo Mosarwe and Tshelofelo Tsiang of Botswana in men doubles.Mosarwe was consolidated by a win from mixed doubles with his partner Tshegofatso Tsiang to qualify to the finals.
Order of play today is that the mixed doubles finals will ignite a day full of tennis competition as the matches galore.