Fresh from steering Team Kenya to a bronze medal finish at the Billie Jean King Cup tournament last week, Wimbledon Junior doubles champion Angela Okutoyi is slated to play at next month's Futures tournaments in Morocco and Tunisia.
Okutoyi said despite missing promotion to Euro Africa Group II, her level of play has improved tremendously and is confident about her prospects at the two North African tournaments,
“I'm looking forward to playing at the two tournaments. We had a good run in the Billie Jean King Cup event and my goal is to do well in the singles tournaments in both Morocco and Tunisia and do the country proud," she said.
The two tournaments will be played on clay and Okutoyi said playing at the revamped Nairobi Club will boost her chances.
“The new surface at Nairobi Club is good and it has aided my preparations for the upcoming and future events,” she said.
The Alabama-based student has asked Tennis Kenya to ensure more players get exposure to match the likes of Morocco and Tunisia on the continent and in the world.
“Talent-wise, I believe we are on the right path but we need more exposure at international tournaments to enable us compete against the best on the continent," added Okutoyi.
"Just looking at us this year, everyone in the team has improved considerably. I believe this team has better serves than anyone out there. That is our biggest weapon and that has helped us throughout the tournament,” she said.
For their third-place finish, Okutoyi, sibling Rosehilda Asumwa, Cynthia Wanjala, Alicia Owegi, Melissa Mwakha and Stacy Yego received a total of Sh128,000 in allowances and Sh50,000 each from Sports Cabinet secretary Ababu Namwamba.
"I would like to thank the CS for the support he showed in coming to cheer the team. It put smiles on our faces,” she observed.
Tennis Kenya's Nancy Nduku said they are keen on sending one more player to the two tournaments in North Africa.
'We are looking at having another player play at the tournaments in search of exposure as we seek to fight for promotion to Euro-Africa Group II again next year," Nduku said.
