The team will be led by ninth ranked Africa’s top player Takanyi Garanganga and also includes Mark Fyn, Benjamin Lock and Tendai Tapfuma.
Freeman Nyamukondiwa takes over the none playing captain’s role following the withdrawal of Genius Chidzikwe. The none playing captain of a Davis Cup team is the coach of the side.
Two teams will qualify for the more prestigious Africa Zone Group Two in 2013. Last year, Zimbabwe missed out of qualification after finishing third in Cairo, Egypt.
Zimbabwe faces Algeria, Namibia, Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, , Kenya, Benin, Nigeria, and Tunisia, and Tennis Zimbabwe office administrator Cliff Nhowara is confident Zimbabwe will win promotion into the prestigious Africa Zone Two.
The tournament will be played on a round robin basis and Nhokwara said the Zimbabwean players have had a lot of international participation in the countries they are based and the experience garnered will play a pivotal role in the team’s chances.
“Garanganga and Tapfuma have been taking part in a number of tournaments in the United Stars of America while Fyn plays in Canada. They are better placed to qualify considering the sort of opposition they are going to face,” said Nhokwara.
Zimbabwe’s best performance in the Davis Cup was way back in 1998 when with Byron and Wayne Black in the driving seat Zimbabwe reached the quarter finals of the World Group before losing 3-2 to Italy.
However, since the retirement of Byron and Wayne, Zimbabwe has been going through a period of gradual decline and a lot needs to be done if the team is to regain World Group status again.
The World Group is the highest stage any team can play in in Davis Cup tennis.
Post published in: Cricket