Kenya coach Francis Rogoi believes home advantage has been key for Team Kenya at the ongoing Billie Jean King Cup tournament at the Nairobi Club.
After winning their third match on the trot, this time against neighbours Uganda, Rogoi said: "Home advantage has been key to our great performances."
"We have had the Isukuti dancers all along and they have been key in psyching up the crowds as well as the players. All I can do is urge more Kenyans to come and cheer our girls as we head towards the business end of the tournament."
As expected, Angela Okutoyi once again led from the front as hosts added another win to their respective Day 1 and Day 2 victories over Morocco and Botswana.
Okutoyi beat Uganda's Patience Athieno 6-0, 6-0 in the opening match.
The Wimbledon Junior doubles champion's determination to fly the country’s flag higher was evident throughout the match as she sent out a strong message to their remaining opponents.
Cynthia Wanjala read into Okutoyi'script to down Winnie Birungi in a 6-3 6-0 triumph despite a shaky start.
"She was a bit tense," coach Rogoi observed.
The doubles match brought together the formidable duo of Roselida Asumwa and 14-year-old Melissa Mwakha and they didn’t disappoint.
With the momentum already set by Okutoyi and Wanjala in the opening singles, Asumwa and Mwakha proved hard nuts to crack against Athieno and Birungi.
The Kenyan pair demonstrated strong chemistry on the court, seamlessly coordinating their shots and manoeuvres to overwhelm their opponents 6-2 6-0.
Asumwa attributed their performance to self-belief, highlighting her confidence in her abilities. Mwakha, on the other hand, revealed that she was very motivated after the opening two singles and nothing was going to stop her.
Rogoi said it is important for the team to keep focus as they continue to chase promotion.
"So far so good," he said. "We play Namibia tomorrow (Thursday) who we feel is a team like any other. Our focus is to win our remaining two matches which will qualify us for the final against the winner of the other pool."
He exuded confidence in the girls' abilities to go the full distance, saying: "Most of them have done this before and even played in longer tours so endurance is not a problem."
The results catapulted Team Kenya to second place in the pool behind Nigeria.
Meanwhile, Uganda coach Edward Odocken acknowledged Kenya's prowess but remains confident of their future.
