Kenya's top-ranked tennis player Ismael Changawa will miss the Mozambique and Angola Futures tournaments this month.
The Three-time Kenya Open champion had hoped to be fit for the year-ending tournament but his shoulder injury has persisted.
Speaking yesterday, Changawa said a nagging shoulder injury has ruled him out of the two tournaments and he is looking to get back to playing in January.
"I will rest and recover for the next two months to get my strength in the shoulder and play in the new year," he added.
Changawa's absence leaves Ibrahim Kibet and Kevin Cheruiyot to fly Kenya's flag in both tournaments as they step up preparations for next month's Kenya Open and Davis Cup playoffs.
Changawa also missed the Nigeria Futures tournament last month owing to the injury he sustained in training and said the rest period will help him prepare for next year adequately.
Changawa was part of the All Africa Games team in Morocco and also played in a warm-up tennis tournament in Valencia, Spain before the continental assignment.
He said the goal for next year will be to win the Davis Cup playoff match against Indonesia in March and help Kenya get promoted to Group II.
"This will be our big target for next year if we can get the right preparation in terms of tournaments then we can win the match against Indonesia,” he noted.
Elsewhere, eight countries have confirmed participation for the CAT /ITF under 14 tournament slated for the Nairobi from November 28 – December 4
Egypt Tunisia, Sudan, Rwanda, Burundi, Uganda, Tanzania and Mozambique are some of the countries expected for the event with some of the top players in the age category expected to play. The Kenya team for the event will be named mid next month.
