A Toti tennis star is on his way to London to captain the U18 South African team to take on Scotland.
Thembo Makhanya (17), a grade 11 pupil at Westville Boys High, who left on Thursday for the UK, is over the moon as the team will enjoy a two-day break in the tournament to watch all the action between the world’s top-ranked players as they battle for supremacy on the grass courts of Wimbledon.
“I’m so excited we will be visiting Wimbledon,” said Thembo. “We will also get to train with the Scottish players as well as play against them. I will try my best to win my singles and doubles matches.”
Thembo, who was born in Toti, started playing tennis at the age of five after his mother took up the sport.
His talent with a racquet soon emerged and this is the third time he will represent his country. He made the SA team in 2009 and he won his match against his USA opponent, and 2011 where he got to play against players from Malaysia.
He is also the number one ranked player at his school since 2014 and vice-captain of the school team. “My aim is to be captain of my school team next year.”
He is currently ranked in the top 25 among the U18 players in South Africa.
“The experience of playing for my country will definitely help my confidence going to London,” said Thembo, who says Roger Federer is his favourite player.
“My dream is to one day play at Wimbledon.”
A development programme focused on soccer and tennis, has been implemented by Toti Sport at Adams, that produces high quality sportsmen like Thembo and other up-and-coming young stars. If anyone would like to be included in the programme or learn more about it, contact Thula Makhanya on 073-725-4968.
