Tennis News of Monday, 11 July 2005

Source: GNA

Adjei-Darko vows to make amends

Accra, July 11, GNA - After his failure to see to the progress of the Golden Rackets to the elite zone in the Euro-Africa II Tourney against Finland early this year, top seed Henry Adjei-Darko is poised to make amends this time when they square up with Georgia in a decisive game that determines their fate in the zone.

With a relegation to Zone III, which is described as the desert, stirring at them, Adjei-Darko told the GNA Sports in an interview on Monday morning that they are well prepared for their opponents.

According to the player, unlike the previous match against the Finns, where they were robbed by inadequate preparations and lack of acclimatization, the one-week of intensive physical and tactical exercises undertaken so far have put them in a great shape for the tie.

"We are very fit for the game because we can play for more hours without getting tired and with this condition, there is no way we are going to disappoint Ghanaians."

Adjei-Darko was of the view that, their fair knowledge of the Georgians, who they have seen play in some tournaments abroad, presents them the needed antidote for the task ahead.

The Ghanaian, ranked 422 by the International Tennis Federation (ITF) reckoned that, the high expectations of Ghanaians put some pressure on them, but added that they were capable of taking care of the situation.

"We have been under such a pressure before and we survived so there is no way we are going to fail this time."

Adjei-Darko added that, the 2000 dollars paid them by the Ministry of Education and Sports has also served as a great motivation to go for the kill during the three-day tourney.

He said it was a promise made to them by the ministry and its fulfilment had made them gain much confidence that would make them die for the nation.

Gunther Darkey, corroborated the assertion of Adjei-Darko saying the one week of intensive training will bring the best out of them against the Georgians.

Having recovered from a shoulder injury, which prevented him from playing in the singles against the Finns, the former number one seed said, though the Georgians must be given equal chance, they were in no mood to slip again.