About
About Squash Rackets Association of Zimbabwe (SRAZ)
The Zimbabwe Squash Open Tournament has been hosted in Bulawayo since 2008 in Bulawayo by the Matabeleland Squash Association and attracts players from UK, USA, South Africa, Malawi, Zambia,
Mauritius, Botswana, Nigeria, etc. The Zimbabwe Squash Close tournament is held every year in Harare. Due to lack of sponsorship, most players travel to other countries to participate in tournaments using their own resources. The Squash Rackets Association of Zimbabwe (SRAZ) is a member of the Squash Federation of
Africa (SFA) and World Squash Federation (WSF).
SRAZ Executive Committee
Honorary President
Patricia Izzet
President: Squash Federation of Africa (SFA): Executive Committee Member: World Squash Federation (WSF): Chairman: Squash Rackets Association of Zimbabwe: Referee: World Squash Federation
Lucky Mlilo
Executive Board Member: Executive Secretary
Admire Magwaza
Executive Committee Member: Matabeleland
Mike Burns
Executive Board Member: Mashonaland
Hayley Louise Mellor
Executive Board Member: Matabeleland South
Jonathan Makola
Executive Board Member: Juniors Chairman
Tatenda Mutimutema
Executive Board Member: Players Representative
Malvin Mubure
Executive Board Member: Players Representative Ladies
Yvonne Mubure
History Of Squash
02.
Since then, squash has been an integral part of Zimbabwe’s sporting heritage and there are now over 160 courts in use throughout the country. One of the oldest is the Prince’s Court in Harare which was played on by the Prince of Wales when he visited the country in 1926 (hence the naming of the court).
03.
In 1974, a glass-backed court was built at Harare Sports Club and 850 people watched a matched played there between Geoff Hunt (Australia: seven times world champion) and Jonah Barrington (Ireland); this
is believed to be the largest spectator capacity of any permanent court in the world. In the late 1970s Harare Sports Club, with its eight-court complex headed by the international glass-backed court, became
part of the world’s professional circuit.
04.
After the Second World War, when the Rhodesian Squash Rackets Association became affiliated to the South African Rackets Association, the national teams from this country played annually in interprovincial competition. The first South African inter-provincial tournament (Jarvis Cup) was held in 1960 and Harare hosted the event in 1964, 1968 and 1972. A school’s inter-provincial championship began in 1966 and teams from this country dominated both the boys’ and girls’ events until the severance of ties
with South Africa in 1980
05.
Among the world class players who visited Zimbabwe in the 1970s were Barrington, Hunt, Hiddy, Jahan
and Gogi Alauddin (Pakistan), John Easter (England) and Ken Hiscoe and Cam Nancarrow (Australia). The world champion, Jahangir Kahn (Pakistan), visited the country after independence
06.
These visits, as well as Gay Erskine’s run of Mashonaland and South Africa titles in the sixties and
seventies, lured many players into the game. Following Erskine (Sportsman of the Year 1973), Steve
Sherren (finalist in 1971 and 1974) and Trevor Wilkinson (finalist in 1979 and 1980), several Zimbabwean
players became highly rated in the southern Africa context. By the 1980s players such as Wilkinson and
Stuart Hailstone commanded world rankings.
07.
Unfortunately, Squash in Zimbabwe declined due to the middle-management leaving the country from 1981 to 1993. Zimbabwe Squash cut ties with South Africa because of the Apartheid Government which was still ruling there. From the point of view of Jarvis Cup and Kaplan Cup; Zimbabwe had been treated as a province of South Africa and following that country’s transformation to racial equality the two countries re-established
relations.
08.
However, both in Zimbabwe and in South Africa squash experienced a downward spiral mainly due to
television sports achieving greater popularity. Sponsorship from large companies went on the decline as squash was losing popularity and not receiving good coverage from the media. However, the main tournaments survived and there was still a small but dedicated group of people handling the administration.
09.
Zimbabwe managed to produce some excellent players in the 1980s and 1990s; achieving World
Rankings with players such as Stuart Hailstone and Trevor Wilkinson. In the Veterans Ranking; Harry O’Connor has several world titles to keep Zimbabwe on the Squash Map. The decline in numbers has continued up to the present with the standards also on a downward spiral.
Our senior teams have not achieved high rankings of late but our juniors still manage to maintain a very good standard. This is due in the main to the efforts of a dedicated group of top class coaches.
08.
The problem with juniors is that the very talented ones obtain scholarships for overseas universities and then move on to greener pastures. In 2012 Zimbabwe hosted the All Africa Junior Championships and these were successfully run by the junior committee. Six countries took part in this prestigious event
09.
The Zimbabwe Squash Open Tournament has been hosted in Bulawayo since 2008 in Bulawayo by the Matabeleland Squash Association and attracts players from UK, USA, South Africa, Malawi, Zambia, Mauritius, Botswana, Nigeria, etc. The Zimbabwe Squash Close tournament is held every year in Harare. Due to lack of sponsorship, most players travel to other countries to participate in tournaments using their own resources.