Juniors Pursue Tennis Dreams

Not
known to capture the attention of most South African youngsters, tennis has yet
to penetrate the masses of youth in the country.  Somehow, five young
ladies from Mzimhlope, Soweto
have come to love the sport & are pursuing their dreams together. 

Sisters
Jabu (15) & Phumelele Kubheka (12), twins Nozipho & Nompumelelo Montja
(13), and friend Lesego Ledwaba (12) may be South Africa’s next stars of
tennis.  If not for their achievements on the tennis court, the girls have
infectious personalities that peers & adults find inviting. 

"Jabu
was the oldest of the group & a little more outgoing than the other
kids," stated Coach Louis Bolling.  Bolling volunteered coaching a
group of kids from Soweto
on Saturday afternoons at Ellis Park under Mickey Styles (Gauteng Central
Tennis Association) & Sylvester Zungu (Mzimhlope Junior Tennis Program) in
2006 & 2007. 

After
assisting Jabu & fellow player Thabang More submit applications to attend a
youth leadership summit in the US,
Bolling was questioned by Styles of his motives in helping the kids. 

As
the 2007/08 GCTA Development Officer & having worked with the kids, Bolling
found this odd.  "I spoke with the parents informing them of the
opportunities, making it clear of my intentions.  This shocked the
parents, as they never communicated with Styles & Zungu about their
children’s development.  The parents informed me of their interest in
having their kids workout with me simply based on the
communication."  

Since
late May of this year Jabu begin to visit the Wendywood Sports Club once a week
for a private lesson with Bolling, a certified tennis coach with a solid
background in youth development, sport management & marketing. 
"She takes the taxis from school to the club & we go hard,"
Bolling explained.  She’s a focused young lady, however we need wane out
the negative thoughts & habits she has experienced in tennis." 

Jabu
began playing tennis five years ago and since has been an inter-provincial team
member, participated in national competitions, as well as selected for
international travelling teams.  "I love playing & plan to use the
game to obtain academic & athletic opportunities.  Studying in the
states & competing on a collegiate level are two of my goals," she
proudly conveys.  The oldest of four children, upon meeting her you sense
Jabu is a fun loving, bubbly, thoughtful teenager.  "I want to do
well for my self & my family."

Often
Jabu considers her sister Phumelele & family friend, Lesego Ledwaba, who
begin trekking along side her to practice.  Phumelele (know as ‘Phumi’)
& Lesego (known as ‘Les’) felt left out when Jabu became a member of the
Wendywood Sports Club, asking Bolling if they could join.  "Of course
I wanted them to come, I wouldn’t turn any kid away that wants to improve
themselves through tennis & is willing to do whatever it takes to empower themselves,"
Bolling shared. 

The
pair began to accompany Jabu in early June to practice sessions, spending a
week during the holidays working on their games while Jabu attended the 2008
IBM South Africa Excite Camp.

The
unofficial fifth sibling of the Kubheka clan & often by Jabu’s side when
off the court hanging out, Lesego avoids ‘sibling rivalry’ with Phumi.
  "Les & Phumi will be nice players if they keep with
it.  Both are resilient in their own ways & are intelligent young
ladies.  Les has faced a traumatic personal experience & yet at a
young age displays great resolve.  It’s good for her to have Jabu &
Phumi in her life."

Both
have been playing tennis for over three years although for a period Lesego put
the rackets down. 

Not
long ago twins Nozipho & Nompumelelo took a page from Les’ book, putting
down the sticks.  As a recognizable pair on the tennis court with their
thin, lanky frames, local boys, preventing them from practicing out of fear,
threatened the twins.  This prompted Styles to question their commitment
without due cause, leading the girls to choose felling safe over their
passion.  "One of the boys in the neighbourhood that plays tennis
would shout at us, threatened to hit us, & make it difficult for us to
practice.  We were scared." 

Upon
learning that the twins stopped playing, Louis Bolling visited the girls at
home to speak with their parents.  "I invited them to join Jabu,
Phumi & Les to practice, telling them we would find a way to ensure they
continue to play if that was what they wanted." 

Only
recently have the twins practiced with Bolling since Nozipho visited in early
August.  "Our parents wanted us to practice with Coach Louis since
our rackets were taken from us (by Styles).  He would shout at us, making
Jabu cry one time, & treat the boys better than us.  It wasn’t fun any
more," one of the twins explained about her experience under Styles. 

In
spite of the challenges the girls faced, they have moved onto greener
pastures.  In a short period, the girl’s tennis development has
accelerated under Bolling’s tutelage.  At the recently concluded 2008
Wanderers Jr. Open, the five finished well in their respective age groups,
capturing two singles championships.  In the Under 14s division, Nozipho
won her first title while Jabu captured the Under 16s for her first
title. 

Jabu’s
sister Phumelele lost in her first finals appearance in the Under 12s division,
as Lesego was stopped in the semi-finals, her best showing in a SATA/TR3
tournament thus far.  Seeded number one in the Under 14s, Nompumelelo was
pleased with her performance having recently adopted new stroke
techniques.  "I was happy I shortened my forehand backswing &
used the continental grip on my serves although I lost," she proudly
stated.  

Parents,
officials, and peers love all of the girls for their beautifully played tennis
as well as their star personalities.  "I’m so happy they’ve been
rescued from the situation they were in, those girls would have been destroyed
by those guys (Mickey Styles & Sylvester Zungu), I’ve seen it before,"
stated a SATA official. 

As
the girl’s expenses are many, Bolling has been determined to find resources to
assist the girls with their tennis pursuits.  "We are actively
seeking individuals, companies, organizations that want to support these
girls.  It’s been challenging for me to fit the bill but I believe we are
on the right path," Bolling affirmed. 

The
furious five’s love & passion for tennis has provided them a host of
experiences & opportunities to pursue their personal goals.  We
anxiously wait to see if Lesego Ledwaba, the Kubheka sisters or Montja twins
are South Africa’s
up & coming version of the Williams sisters.