Tennis courts to soon be in tip top shape
Tennis is receiving a huge injection in the city through the collaboration of businesses and the municipality to upgrade courts and facilities.
POLOKWANE – This follows the upgrading of some of the tennis courts and upgrading of facilities, to be followed by a proposed mayoral tennis tourney to be held on 12 August.
It is proposed that the mayoral tennis tournament be held annually on every second Saturday in August.
The city currently boasts two tennis clubs with more than 100 members.
Around six months ago the surface of the tennis courts in Polokwane was a cause of concern, but the resurfacing and resealing of five courts so far and the replacement of some of the fences have been a huge improvement.
Schools may also be able to utilise the courts for championships and tournaments once all facilities are upgraded, and local clubs are looking forward to host provincial and even national tourneys at the club following the upgrading’s finalisation.
Attention needed to be given to the lights at the court, and 16 new nets were installed.
A meeting between concerned residents and the municipality was held early in June, where residents promised to assist with some of the improvements to be done.
Businesses in Polokwane assisted to level existing paving at the courts to accommodate disabled players (Blitz Paving), as many wheelchair championships are held in the city.
Other businesses also donated generously to upgrade the state of the tennis courts.
NTK Limpopo Agric donated shade netting, Martin’s Blinds is to fix current mini-verandahs and replace it with chromadeck, Project 2000 promised to do all cement work, touching up of wheelchair ramps and levelling of cement surfaces, Jack’s Paints to repaint all tables, benches and wheelchair ramps, Retsini Nursery to revamp the garden in collaboration with the municipal garden services, NTY Steel to fix all existing pavilions, damaged fence poles, erect barriers to accommodate brooms and cleaning equipment and cleaning appliances for the courts and remake the referee chairs. Wood Stuff promised to resurface and fix wooden doors, Ultra Satellite and TV is fixing the existing alarm system, Diamond Plumbing did their part and Susan Temple revamped the bathrooms and replaced upholstery in the clubhouse.
Review spoke to one of the city’s local tennis stars, 16-year old Takelani Molaoa, whose achievements include being ranked 9th for the under 12’s in Tennis South Africa (TSA) championships previously and having won four tournaments so far this year.
She has played internationally and in pro championships in South Africa. She is to play again in TSA international junior tournaments in Benoni on 12 July and on 19 July on Ellispark. Takelani said she was very happy about the upgrading of the courts.
