Angela Okutoyi in action in a past match/FILE
Coach Thuku Rogoi said the move from Nairobi Club to Karen aims at helping the players familiarise themselves with a hard court ahead of the Southern Africa encounter.
“The eight to nine days we have before departure will be vital. The duration gives the players an opportunity to adjust. A good number of our players were playing on clay and murram, so this is good for the team,” said Rogoi.
He is satisfied with the players’ preparations for the week-long tournament. However, the African Games champion Angela Okutoyi will link up with the rest of the team on Saturday after competing at the FISA University Games in Germany.
US-based duo of Alicia Owegi and Cynthia Cheruto are already in camp, buoyed by their performances in the US Collegiate circuit. Melissa Mwakha is playing at the J100 tournaments in Zimbabwe and Namibia, while Stacy Yego played in the just concluded J30 and J60 tournaments, where she reached the quarterfinals.
Rogoi said they will leverage last year’s experience, where Team Kenya finished third.
“We must continue with the same players from last year to capitalise on the gains then. They have polished up the areas they struggled in,” noted Rogoi.
The ITF has changed the promotion rules for this year, with only one slot available. The Group III winners will face the relegated team from Group II, with Rogoi insisting that there will be no margin for error.
“It’s going to be tough now that we have only one slot available, and even if you win, you have to face the relegated team. But we are well prepared for the challenge ahead,” said Rogoi.
There will be three pools of four teams each. Pool winners proceed to the second, which will be played on a round-robin format. In addition to Kenya and the hosts Namibia, Morocco, Nigeria, Tunisia, Uganda, Zimbabwe, Algeria, Botswana, Burundi, Ghana, Madagascar and Morocco have confirmed their entries.
