OFF to Bloemfontein to represent Port Alfred and the Eastern Cape Province are Port Alfred High School pupils Siya Mbanzi and Lise-Mari Coetzee.
The pair have been selected to play in the inter-provincials at SA Schools Week in Bloemfontein from April 1 – 4. They leave today (March 30) to arrive tomorrow.
This weekend will mark the start of a new world of fitness, honing skills and – with tenacity – perhaps even a new competitive career-path in the lives of the two pupils who have been selected to represent at the U13 interprovincial tennis play-offs.
Mbanzi, who said she started playing tennis in Grade 2 when she was eight years old, has been living in Port Alfred for seven years since her father took a teaching post in Ndlambe.
“I mostly played tennis because of my friends,” said Mbanzi. “I’m kind of excited, kind of scared, because it’s the first time I’m playing for the EP.”
Coetzee has been playing tennis from even younger.
“I started playing tennis with my dad when I was four,” she said.
Both Mbanzi and Coetzee play tennis for PAHS.
“The girls have worked exceptionally hard to get there,” said their coach Chix Pearson. “These two have been doubles partners from under 9, and we are very thrilled that Siya’s been invited to represent the development side of the EP.”
