By SANDRA MWILA –
THE Confederation of Southern Africa Table Tennis Association (CATTA) Zone Six Senior Championship opens today at the Olympic Youth Development Centre (OYDC) with Zambia banking medal hopes on 22 players.
But the 22, including rising star Choolwe Hamalambo, will have to fight off tough opposition in the form of defending champions, South Africa.
Other countries taking part in the championships are Angola, Namibia, Botswana and Zimbabwe.
Whereas South Africa are the overwhelming favourites to retain the overall first place, Zambia could provide a ‘banana skin’ to the holders and other opponents because of the large number of participants.
The Zambian team hopes to emulate South Africa who won the regional championship when they hosted it.
South Africa have brought with them a team of seven players, four men and three women while Zambia is the only country that will field players in each and every category.
The tournament has five categories namely singles for both men and women, doubles for both categories and mixed doubles to spice up the order.
Having a home ground advantage, the Zambian team has been privileged to field two teams for both men and women’s categories.
Namibia, who were the first to arrive, have a four-member squad while Zimbabwe ,Botswana and Angola were still being expected by press time.
Team Zambia has in the men’s category Noel Kasanda, Humphrey Kapula, Timothy Nkhata, Simasiku Kalaluka and Isaac Banda all from Napsa with Green Buffaloes contributing Taylor Fundulu while Hamalambo is from Ping Pong Stars.
The rest of the men in the team are Lloyd Mubanga, George Mulandu and Martin Chewe from Nasdec.
The women’s team has Mercy Vuttah, Ruth Zulu, Sheila Mwanza, and Ruth Mutailoni of Ng’ombe PTA School while Ping Pong Stars has contributed Latifa Nalavwe, Mary Mambwe and Mubanga Kunda.
Gertrude Phiri and Lucia Mwale of Napsa while Kate Phiri from Nasdec and Annita Chilombe are the rest of the women players.