Why Tennis Kenya is worried

Tennis Kenya is worried that the Davis Cup team will not get the required build up ahead of Euro/Africa Davis Cup Group Two championship starting February next year.

James Kenani, the Tennis Kenya President, disclosed Thursday that the government is silent on their budget of Sh 8.7 million for the championship.

Kenani said the amount will be used to prepare and enable the team take part in the Euro/Africa Group Two that will be played on home and away basis from February to April next year.

It's envisaged that the Davis Cup team players will play a series of tournaments in South Africa, Egypt and Botswana ahead of the championship.

"We really need to put up a good show in the Davis Cup to earn promotion to Group One or retain our place in Group Two. That is why we have planned for the tour to give out players an edge before the competition," said Kenani.

Kenani explained that the government is yet to refund them Sh2.5million used during the Davis Cup Africa Group Three Championships held between June 18-23 this year.

At the same time, Kenani said they have protested to International Tennis Federation (ITF) owing to the planned change of Davis Cup Group Two format after new sponsors Cosmos took over.

Kenani said that they will not allow for the intended ranking that could place Kenya 14th hence out of the Group Two to go on.

With the new sponsor, there is a proposal to rank teams for the Davis Group Two Championship, where the top 12 teams would make the final cut.

Countries like Kenya, Namibia, Honduras and Poland would be knocked out from the Davis Cup Group Two that should start in February next year.

“You can’t come up with rules when countries have already qualified,” said Kenani, adding that ITF is due to meet on Saturday to deliberate on the intended changes.

“Let them introduce those rules next year. We also can’t understand why sponsors should dictate the mode of play for events. That is totally unacceptable,” said Kenani.