Kenya will host the Euro/Africa Davis Cup Group III tennis tournament in September.
The country won the bid after seeing off Tunisia. This will be the second successive year Kenya is hosting the event after winning the event last with Namibia second.
Both nations were promoted to the Group II but their hopes were dashed after the International Tennis Federation (ITF) came up with new rules at the Annual General Meeting in the United States last year.
The ITF Annual General meeting adopted a new ranking system after a new sponsor, Kosmo, an investment firm owned by FC Barcelona and Spain defender Gerard Pique, signed a deal worth $30 billion (Sh300 billion) covering 25 years.
The new rankings were backdated to four years ago and as a result, Kenya dropped to 13th in the Euro/Africa Group II where 12 countries were picked. Kenya was ranked 76th in the world by the end of last year.
Kosmo takes over from BNP Paribas, a French International banking company, who have been ITF partners for over 100 years. Kenya will be up against the likes of Algeria, Benin, Cameroon, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Tunisia and Uganda.
Coach Rosemary Owino expressed confidence that they can fight their way back to Group II. “ I have faith in the boys that they can deliver. We have the advantage of playing on home soil," said Owino.
Owino added that the key to Kenya's qualification to a higher level depends on adequate preparation.
"We have time to prepare well for the championship to give our players a chance to be in top form ahead of the championship," said Owino.
The Davis Cup team has the likes of Ismael Changawa, Sheil Kotecha, Albert Njogu , Ryan Randiek and Kevin Cheruiyot.
