ZIMBABWEAN Lucky Mlilo was recently retained as the vice president Southern region for the Africa Squash Federation at the continental body’s annual general meeting at the end of September.

Mlilo, the Zimbabwe Squash Rackets Association chairman was part of the Africa Squash Federation as the vice president for the South having been elected in 2013. At the federation’s AGM staged at the Wanderers Squash Club in Johannesburg, he had his tenure extended up 2020. Egyptian Hany Hamouda is still the president of the continental federation.

The 51-year old Bulawayo business executive said his biggest priority was to ensure that the country gets to host the All Africa senior championship next year after being encouraged by the Minister of Sport and Recreation Makhosini Hlongwane who was the guest of honour at the Zimbabwe Open Squash Championship held in Bulawayo at the end of July.

“We are looking to host either the All Africa senior championship or the junior tournament, we are in the process of putting in a bid the Minister encouraged us to do so. We understand Mauritius want to host one of the tournaments so when we know which one they want, we will put in our bid and about $30 000 is needed for the senior tournament,’’ said Mlilo.

Last month, Mlilo who is also a squash referee travelled to Egypt and South Africa where he officiated in two tournaments. The competition in Cairo was a Professional Squash Association event while the one in Johannesburg was a World Masters tournament. Mlilo had registered to play in the South Africa tournament but he could not do so as he arrived late from Egypt.

Zimbabwe had 22 players in South Africa, 19 were from Harare and three from Bulawayo.

Mlilo’s squash officiating career has taken a knock in the last two years as he has not had much international competitions where he gets assessments in his bid to become an international referee.