Tennis Kenya unveils provisional squad for African Games

Tennis Kenya (TK) have named an eight-member provisional side for the African Games slated for Accra, Ghana next month.

Kenya's Davis Cup team of Ismael Changawa, Australia-based Ibrahim Kibet, Kael Shah, Keean Shah and Derrick Ominde will be up against youngsters Baraka Ominde, Brandon Sagala, Kennedy Musembi and Raymond Oduor. 

Albert Njogu and Kevin Cheruiyot will also be in contention for the four slots for the continental extravaganza.

The ladies' provisional side will feature USA-based Angela Okutoyi, Alicia Owegi, Rosehilda Asumwa and Zimbabwe-based Melissa Mwakha. Others are — Cynthia Cheruto, Stacy Yego and Kenyan-born Belgian Anouk Vandevelde

Tennis Kenya (TK) administrator, Nancy Nduku, said the foreign-based players are training with their coaches while those who are at home are training at the Nairobi Club.

Nduku said the team has been training for the past four weeks and observed they have intensified preparations in the last fortnight.

"The coaches are looking at improving their match fitness and conditioning and polishing up their skill set which will be vital,” added Nduku. 

She said the African Games will be ideal preparations for the Davis Cup Africa Group 4 tournament later in the year.

“A good number of players they will face in Ghana will play in the Davis Cup and if we win mentally,  it will give us an advantage when we meet,” noted Nduku.

Cheruiyot said they have adapted to the searing temperatures which will be what they will face in Accra.

" The weather we are experiencing here in training is identical to what expect in Accra and this will help us when it comes to acclimatisation," noted Cheruiyot. 

The African Games will also act as an Olympic qualifier and Nduku said it will be historic should Kenya tennis qualify for the first time for the Olympics.

“It will be a tall order but we will give it our best shot. Both the boys and girls are raring to go," observed Nduku. 

At the 2019 African Games in Rabat, Morocco, Kenya had Okutoyi, Alicia Oweg, Judith Muraa and Faith Omurunga. Albert Njogu, Ismael Changawa Kevin Cheruiyot and Ibrahim Kibet formed the boys' team. 

Team Kenya failed to make it to the medal bracket of the games, bowing out at the preliminaries.