SUNDAY ROUTINE: HOW CHIEF AND MADZUDZO TURN TENNIS INTO DAILY BREAD IN CHINHOYI

CHINHOYI – Sundays in Chinhoyi unfold in different ways depending on who you ask. For some residents, it is a day dedicated to church and prayer. Others prefer to relax at home with family, while a few head out to parties, watch soccer on television with a cold drink, or take advantage of the weekend to travel.  

But for two friends, Chivinge and Madzudzo, Sunday has one non-negotiable appointment: the tennis court.  

While much of the town slows down, the pair can be found at the ZRP Mash West tennis courts with racquets in hand, running drills, working on footwork and practicing serves. What began as a casual hobby has grown into what they now call their “daily bread.”  

“It is now our daily routine,” Chivinge said following a training session on Sunday. “Tennis helps us stay physically fit while we are playing. It keeps our bodies and minds active.”  

Dressed in sports gear and moving with purpose across the court, the two stressed that consistency is what has kept them going. Whether it rains or shines, whether others are at church or resting, they show up to work on endurance, technique and discipline.  

They say the appeal is simple: they get to enjoy the sport while training at the same time.  

“The beauty of tennis is that you are competing and exercising at the same time,” Madzudzo noted between rallies. “You don’t feel like you’re training because you’re enjoying the game.”  

Tennis itself is a sport with deep global roots. Believed to have originated in 12th-century France as “jeu de paume,” it has evolved into one of the world’s most popular individual sports. Played on a court with racquets and a felt ball, the game demands speed, strategy, and stamina, and it is celebrated on the world stage through tournaments such as Wimbledon and the US Open. In Zimbabwe, the sport maintains a dedicated following through clubs, schools and facilities like the ZRP Mash West courts, where players train and compete socially.  

For Chivinge and Madzudzo, the routine represents more than just fitness. It is about friendship, structure and commitment. While others in Chinhoyi spend Sunday unwinding, the two are chasing balls and sharpening their skills, building a habit they intend to maintain for years to come.  

As the sun set over the courts on Sunday, the steady sound of racquets striking balls echoed across the facility  a quiet reminder that in every community there is someone choosing a different way to spend the day.