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Ellina Mhlanga Sports Reporter
TENNIS Zimbabwe president Martin Lock has saluted the Davis Cup team for gaining promotion back into the Europe/Africa Group II after a successful campaign in Cairo, Egypt.

The team, led by captain Martin Dzuwa, was able to make a quick return to Group II when they beat Kenya 2-0 in the promotional play-offs on Saturday.

They had finished second behind Egypt in Pool A, which included Rwanda and Nigeria, in the round robin to proceed to the play-offs.

“I just wanted to say the guys have done a fantastic job. We are really thrilled, I think the whole nation is very proud and supporting them.

“It’s never easy playing away from home and also playing on clay which we are not familiar with. But they did the job and I think we deserve to be in the Euro/Africa Group II, that’s where we are and we are looking forward to next year where we have a very good chance of having a home match.

“So we would love to play at home, so we can get more exposure for our players, for the game, for our sponsors, it’s all very positive,” said Lock.

Zimbabwe were relegated to Africa Zone Group III last year after losing to Georgia.

Before the setback, Zimbabwe had been elevated into Group II in 2014 when they beat Namibia in the promotional play-offs in Egypt. They then spent two years — 2015 and 2016 — in the Group.

Zimbabwe’s 2014 promotion came after seven years of fighting for a place in the Group.

Lock said although the draw determines a number of things, including their chances of staying in the Europe/Africa Group II, the key aspect is to invest in the players.

“I think a lot depends on your draw, you could draw the number one seed, you could draw the number eight seed. It depends on who you play, it depends if we get the home draw but I am pretty sure we have got a very good chance of playing at home.

“But the big thing is we need to ensure that our players who are on the professional tour are supported and catered for so that they can be funded to travel, to play in tournaments, have training with a suitable coach.

“And we as an association will be looking to our sponsors, looking to our well-wishers, looking to the relevant ministry to help fund our players on the world tour so that they can play as much tournaments as they can and be not only improving but ready to compete for Zimbabwe in the Davis Cup.

“In a nutshell the more you develop your players the better they become and the stronger you become as a nation. And then not only would we compete in Group II we would love to get promotion to Group I,” said Lock.

The draw will take place on September 22.