Chronicle Editor
Ngqwele Dube, Sports Correspondent
PREPARATIONS for the Davis Cup World Group II play-off tie against Syria billed for next month at the Harare Sports Club are now in full swing.
Tennis Zimbabwe president, Biggie Magarira said they expected the players to group in Harare today to begin camp in readiness for the games scheduled for next 6 and 7 March.
After losing to Romania last year, Zimbabwe were drawn against Syria in Group II with the latter being the home team but could not host the tie at home because of security reasons.
The International Tennis Federation had given Syria the option of choosing a neutral venue but after failing to do so, the ITF confirmed Zimbabwe as hosts.
TZ retained the same team that played last year namely, Takanyi Garanganga, Benjamin Lock, Courtney Lock and Mehluli Sibanda — and roped in up-and-coming ace, Ethan Sibanda.
Magarira said they will not be taking the opposition lightly as they have been steadily progressing on the rankings.
“The preps for the Davies Cup tie are now in full swing both administratively and on the courts.
“We are not taking them lightly but focusing on our preparations as we want them to find us in good condition, at the moment our players are featuring in various tournaments across the world with Mehluli (Sibanda) and Takanyi (Garanganga) having been in North Africa. Takanyi is now in Harare but Mehluli is on his way from South Africa while Courtney (Lock) and Benjamin (Lock) are in Canada but had been in the United States and Australia respectively early this month. I believe the matches they have been involved in gave them adequate match time and they have to fine tune their preps this week.
“Syria might not have a stable situation at home but their players could be doing well on the circuit in whichever countries they are based so we do not have to be complacent in our approach,” he said.
Magarira revealed they have roped in Ethan Sibanda (15) to the Davies Cup team as part of their youth development strategy that has seen them slowly bring in up-and-coming promising stars such as Thabo Ncube.
“It’s part of our youth development strategy to bring in young players to the game although he will not play, we believe the exposure at that level will enable him to pick up experiences that will improve his game.
“We believe training and being in camp with the older players will prove vital in his growth in the sport,” he said.
Syria managed to win three of their four group matches last year as they beat Malaysia 2-1 while dispatching Qatar and Iran by a similar score line of 3-0 and the result saw them skyrocket 20 places up the rankings from number 92 to 72.
Zimbabwe’s 4-1 loss to Romania on the other hand saw them go down three places from 61 to 64.
It’s the first time the two nations are meeting in the Davis Cup tournament.
Zimbabwe’s last Davis Cup encounter was in April when they took on Romania in the Europe/ Africa Group II and under the new structure, if Zimbabwe win in the World Group II play-offs, they will compete in the World Group I play-offs. However, if they lose, they will compete in Africa Group III.
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