adminSports Correspondent
Tennis Zimbabwe selectors have decided not to have a replacement for Benjamin Lock who withdrew from the team that faces Finland in the Davies Cup Euro/Africa Zone Group II first round tie next weekend leaving only three players to do duty.
Davies Cup non-playing captain Martin Dzuwa said there were no replacements available for Benjamin who withdrew from the team a fortnight ago due to college commitments.
This leaves the three players who had already been named as part of the team to do duty for the country in the three-day tournament in Kittila, Finland.
The trio is United States-based Zimbabwe number one player Takanyi Garanganga, Martin Fynn, and Courtney Lock.
“We would have loved to replace Benjamin but there was no one available due to the time factor. We believe the three players have what it takes to compete and bring us a win. I don’t think we should fret too much about the replacement but focus on how we work around winning the tie,” said Dzuwa.
In an interview on Friday, the former Davies Cup player said he would be meeting the players today when they arrive in Finland and that is when a decision will be made on who features in the singles and doubles matches.
Dzuwa said he was happy that Garanganga had been playing at the Turkey Futures tournament saying it gave him good practice as it was a competitive tourney. The country’s number one player was knocked out at the quarter-final stage on Thursday.
Dzuwa said the team would only train in Finland for five days due to limited funds although they would have loved to have a two week training camp to acclimatise in the European country.
“The players would have to adapt quickly to the weather conditions in Finland because of the short period of time we have, but I’m confident they won’t face any difficulties. I am confident we can win the tie despite the pitfalls that we have been facing and the fact that Takanyi has been playing competitive games in the Turkey Futures is good preparation for the tie,” said Dzuwa.
In March last year, Zimbabwe lost their opening round match to Bosnia Herzegovina 1-4. However, they retained their place in the Euro/Africa Zone Group II with a dominant 5-0 whitewash of Moldova at the Harare Sports Club four months later.
Losers of the Zimbabwe-Finland tie will go back to the relegation play-off, while the winners move a step towards promotion into Group One, which is a rung below the elite World Group.
Finland, who are currently ranked 55, 10 places above Zimbabwe, would be buoyed by the return of 34-year-old veteran Jarkko Nieminem who retired from competitive tennis late last year when he was ranked 162 in the world.
Online Reporter