Fresh from finishing second in the Confederation of African Tennis (CAT) East Africa Zonal Championships Individual category, Team Kenya will be eyeing the top prize in the team category in Bujumbura, Burundi today.
Coach Rosemary Owino expressed confidence that the boys and girls can replicate their success in the team event.
“The boys and girls put in good performances across all categories and we are looking forward to the start of the team event which I believe is our strong point," added Osogo.
Owino expects a stern test from the hosts Burundi, Rwanda and Uganda in the three-day competition which will conclude on Saturday.
"I must say Burundi are the favourites by being the hosts and going by their performance in the individual categories, where they carried the day,” added Owino.
The coach said they have worked on various facets of play which she believes will be key in the team tournament.
"This being a team event, our teamwork and agility on the court will be vital coupled with our service game. We have to be at our best if we are to come out on top come the weekend," said Owino.
In the individual category, Stacy Yego won the girls' Under 16, with Zimbabwe-based Melissa Mwakha finishing second as Hadassah Maine completed the podium.
In the boys' U-16, Baraka Ominde came out tops with Ayush Bhandari finishing fifth and Brian Nyakundi seventh.
In the boys under 14 doubles pairing Jeff Okuku and Ayan Quadros won the final while in the girls category, Nancy Kawira and Bathseba Ogamba finished runners-up.
Yego said they are relishing the challenge in the team category. “ I'm looking forward to it. We have an amazing team and we have worked on several areas which we believe will give us victory," added Yego.
Elsewhere, Angela Okutoyi has proceeded to the main draw of the W35 tournament in Naples Florida.
The 2022 Wimbledon doubles junior champion beat Leah Kwong of Canada 6-2, 6-1 before edging Hsu Chieh-yu of Taiwan 6-2, 3-6, 10-6 in her second match. She will face Allura Zamarripa of the USA in the first round.
