Football stars adopt tennis rackets

WESTDENE - Tennis is so popular, even Kaizer Chief football stars pick up a racket in support of the SA Wheelchair Tennis Tournament.

French tennis player, Stephane Houdet, top ranked player, Evans Maripa, world number three junior, Alwande Skhosana from South Africa and Kaizer Chiefs players Daniel Cardoso and Tsepo Masilela are briefed by Wheelchair Tennis South Africa director Holger Losch ahead of the match. Photo supplied.

South Africa’s top wheelchair tennis ace and Westdene resident, Evans Maripa, hit the court with Kaizer Chief football stars Tsepo Masilela and Daniel Cardoso, this week.

The occasion was a tennis match exhibition on the first day of the Airports Company South African Wheelchair Tennis Open Tournament on 5 April at Ellis Park Tennis Stadium. The exhibition was used to create awareness around the SA Open event.

The two footballers took on men’s world number one Stephane Houdet from France, Evans Maripa and world number three junior, Alwande Skhosana. The three wheelchair tennis aces shared some tennis tips prior to the match and then played for half an hour. Cardoso partnered with Maripa and Masilela joint forces with Houdet and Skhosana. The team of Maripa and Cardoso won after a tie-breaker.

“It was a very good experience for both the wheelchair tennis and soccer players, and most importantly generated the expected recognition,” said tournament director, Patrick Selepe.

The SA Open is the penultimate Super Series event prior to the close of the qualification window for Rio Paralympics. The tournament continues till 9 April and has attracted over 120 players from 21 countries. It is estimated to be one of the strongest fields ever assembled for a Super Series tournament as the world’s top 11 men, top 10 women and top five world quad players in singles rankings are contesting in the event.

“Most of our wheelchair tennis players, such as Alwande Skhosana, are big fans of the Kaizer Chiefs team. With that we invited both Daniel Cardoso, who played a bit of tennis when he was younger and at school, and Tsepo Masilela, who never played before but wanted to learn and offer support to the sport,” added Selepe.

“It was great to have the Kaizer Chief players with us and it was a fun match. They are amazing and showed such good sportsmanship. It was a good opportunity for Wheelchair Tennis South Africa and the wheelchair tennis community to gain exposure. It was a privilege and I am happy to have had the experience,” Maripa said.

Details: Wheelchair Tennis South Africa, 010 001 0008.