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Zimbabwe Davis Cup team captain Martin Dzuwa has urged his players to exhibit a lot more aggression and ignore the underdog tag when they take on Finland in a Europe/Africa Group II tie.
Dzuwa is expected to link up with Takanyi Garanganga, Mark Fynn and Courtney Lock in Finland today as they begin preparations for Thursday’s clash against the Europeans, who are ranked 55th in the world.
Zimbabwe is ten places below their opponents, hence Dzuwa reckons Finland are favourites who can be beaten.
“We haven’t got the opportunity to work as a team yet since the last tie, but we have four days in Finland to prepare ourselves,” he told The Sunday Mail.
“Unfortunately the financial side of Tennis Zimbabwe was not good enough for us to camp for a week, but we have to deal with the four days that we did get.
“We are going there as underdogs, the players just have to be aggressive on the court, chances of winning are there it just depends on how we play on the day,” he said.
Zimbabwe will be missing their number two player, Ben Lock, who has college commitments, and Dzuwa said they would decide on who plays in his stead.
“We haven’t decided who is going to play the number two position; we will see when we get there who is in good form and all that. It’s an opportunity for these other guys, singles’ performances will be crucial.”
Zimbabwe last played Finland in 1996, winning 4-1 with the great Black brothers teaming up with Genius Chidzikwe and Rashid Hassan to ease past their opponents at City Sports Centre in Harare.
“Yeah, it was a long time ago and we have different names now; we are the underdogs now I think, but back then we were the ones to beat. We need the support of the nation and we will do our best for our country,” said Dzuwa.
Online Reporter