eBusiness Weekly
Chipo Sabeta
Twelve- year-old squash gem, Ryan Gwidzima continues to hoist high the country’s flag in England following a 3-0 victory at the England Squash Exeter Bronze Tournament last week.
Gwidzima, who moved to Gloucestershire, England in August last year, played in the Boys U-15 age group, beating Nero Harms to claim another silverware.
This saw Gwidzima lifting his fourth title overseas since he moved to the UK to further his studies and his game on a scholarship at Wycliffe College.
Gwidzima announced his arrival within two months of moving to England, after winning the England Squash North West Junior Under-13 boys Championships at the National Squash Centre in Manchester.
In October, he was on the winner’s podium again after winning 2018 Hungarian Junior Open Boys’ Under-13 title in Budapest.
Gwidzima, who is the reigning U-15 African Junior Champion left Zimbabwe in August 2018 to continue his education and harness his squash skills as he pursues a professional squash career.
His Bulawayo-based father Langton, is optimistic that his son will become a world champion considering his career consistency since he was five.
“I am happy with his progress so far and hoping he will continue to rise. He started to play squash at the age of five at Suburbs Squash Courts and received the best skills at a tender age. I only fear for injuries but I trust God always protects. He has won more than five tournaments so far and that’s very encouraging,” he said.
Langton said the support and grooming he is receiving in England will not only benefit him as a player but will also help fly the country’s flag high.
“He will be future star. I don’t doubt that considering the skills and grooming.
“At 12, he was playing in the men’s league and he is rated among the top 10 players in Zimbabwe. I thought he was going to struggle away from home but within a month, he was banging accolades. I am impressed by his good report on his academic exploits.”
Gwidzima started playing squash at Suburbs Squash Club in Bulawayo, where he was coached by his father Langton. His undoubted talent in the elite sport has not gone unnoticed when his parents, with the help of a Ryan Gwidzima Trust managed to apply for a scholarship in UK.
Wycliffe College is one of the best private schools in England situated in the Cotswolds, and has an “Elite Squash Squad” at the school, and Ryan will be in this squad.
Last year, the school won the Under 19 and U-15 Boys National Schools Championships, as well as the U-19 Girls National Schools coming runner-up. In the Under 15 age group Wycliffe has been particularly successful. At Wycliffe College, Gwidzima is expected to develop into a world class player.
With assistance of the Promise Ncube chaired Trust, Gwidzima is expected to proceed to high school at the same institution.
