Ishmael Changawa leads a star-studded Team Kenya to the Senior Africa Cup of Nations tournament slated for Tunisia next week.
Changawa will team up with Albert Njogu and Derrick Ominde in the boys' category as the country's youngest Kenya Open champion, Angela Okutoyi, spearheads the girls' challenge alongside Alicia Owegi and Cynthia Cheruto.
Team Kenya are looking to go a place better than their last appearance in the continental event three years ago when they lost both the boys and girls categories in the final, losing out to Morocco and Tunisia respectively in Botswana.
The event was set for last year but was shelved owing to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Rosemary Owino, who is coaching the girls' side, said her charges are in good shape after playing in the ongoing ITF under 18 tournament at Nairobi Club.
“The girls have had some game time in the tournament and we hope we can go a place better than we did three years ago. We are confident this group can win the overall title,” added Owino.
Changawa said they are relishing the challenge of competing with the top players on the continent scene after a long hiatus.
“I have been on a break but resumed training recently and I'm excited we played well in the last event. However, that's in the past now and will count for nothing. We must be at our best if we are to win the overall crown,” said Changawa
Boys' coach Lawrence Karanja said he expects fierce competition from the North African teams.
"We expect a tough game from them considering that they will be playing at their backyard. We hope to travel early so that we can acclimatise and get a feel of the court," he added.
Elsewhere, there was mixed performance from Kenyan participants at the ITF Under-18 tournament at Nairobi Club.
Derrick Ominde edged So Ogiri of Japan 6-3, 6-4 to advance to the third round but Liberty Kibue fell by the wayside, losing to Robledo Hoyas of Colombia 6-1, 6-2 . Raymond Oduor went down 6-1, 6-2 to Stefan Regalia of the USA. Alicia Owegi is the sole Kenyan girl left in the competition.
