Team Kenya for the Billie Jean King Cup Group 3 championship will start residential training this week as they step up preparations for the tournament which serves off on June 12 at the Nairobi Club.
Tennis Kenya executive officer Nancy Nduku said the federation wants to give the team the best possible chance to seal the automatic promotion slot.
“We want to give our girls the best possible chance to qualify and I believe the two-week residential camp will help put them in the best possible shape for the tournament,” said Nduku.
Nduku said the Billie Jean King Cup tournament is a pathway to the 2024 Paris Olympics qualifiers.
"This is an important tournament in our quest to have representatives at Paris Olympics as well as an opportunity to do well in a home Bellie Jean tournament,” added Nduku
Nduku said they are delighted to host the tournament after a 28-year wait.
"We lasted the tournament in 1995 when it was known as the Fed Cup so we are happy to bring it back at the home of tennis — Nairobi Club — and we are excited to host the matches in world-class facilities," added Nduku.
Team Kenya will train on the new world-class murram courts which are being laid by the Nairobi Club at a cost of Sh8m, according to club chief executive officer Walter Nyandiko.
"By the time the tournament starts in a fortnight, the courts will be in good shape and our Kenyan team will train there," observed Nyandiko.
Team Kenya will be represented by Wimbledon junior doubles champion Angela Okutoyi and twin sister Rosehilda Asumwa, Alicia Owegi and Cynthia Wanjala.
Head coach Francis Rogoi has also added Stacy Yego and Melissa Mwakha as part of the reserve players.
Kenya will face Botswana, Burundi, Ghana, Mauritius, Namibia, Nigeria, Seychelles, Uganda, Zimbabwe Tunisia and Morocco in the week-long tournament.
