Twelve of Graeme College's top senior tennis players are currently on their way to Mauritius on a school tennis tour.
Twelve of Graeme College's top senior tennis players are currently on their way to Mauritius on a school tennis tour.
The Graeme players will take part in a total of five matches throughout the 10-day tour, although the final details of who they play against have not yet been finalised. School tennis coach Hanlie van der Meulen said the school was requested to send details of the boys' ages and levels of ability to the National Tennis Centre in Vacoas-Phoenix, the largest town in Mauritius.
There, team management will select players of similar strength to play against the Graeme pupils. Van der Meulen said that this particular group of boys are being given the opportunity to go to Mauritius because the team is among the best in the history of the school. The side has gone on a few local tours as well, and van der Meulen said they have only lost one of their matches this season.
The players are all between the ages of 16 and 18. The touring group raised a total of R40 000 to contribute towards the trip's expenses through cake sales, selling boerewors rolls at home rugby games and raffles.
The first match is scheduled for 21 June at the National Tennis Centre in Vacoas-Phoenix. On 23 June the second match is scheduled to be at the Rosehill Club, (on a clay court) and this will also be the venue for the third match. The two final matches, on 26 and 27 June will again be played at the National Tennis Centre. The team has received sponsorship from Albany Sports, T. Birch Co, Edgars and Pepper Grove Mall's Pick n Pay.
The touring team is made up of Wade Labuschagne (captain), Jared Coetzee, Brad Labuschagne, Russell Dixon, Brendan Marais, Apelele Ntlantsana, Langa Nyanda, Lukhanyo Tshongweni, Devon Sykes, Ryan Williamson, Daniel Rogers and Chumani Somyalo. The team's management includes van der Meulen and Nico van der Meulen (school master in charge of sport).
