Tennis News of Monday, 11 July 2005

Source: GNA

Optimistic captain Churcher plots Georgia fall

Accra, July 11, GNA - David Churcher, Captain of Ghana's Davis Cup team is plotting Georgia's fall with 74 hours to the critical Euro-African Zone II must-win game against the Europeans.

The coach has stepped up training, moving the team from their initial base in Swedru, in the Central Region, after they had undergone a week of physical exercise, to the Frank Ofori Centre Court of the Ohene Djan Sports Stadium in Accra.

The Accra exercise is aimed at smoothening the rough edges of the team within the next three days.

Coach Churcher who told the GNA Sports he was still awaiting the arrival of Salifu Mohammed said his emphasis in the next few days would be toughening the mental alertness and concentration of the boys.

Top seed Henry Adjei-Darko, in-form Gunther Darkey and local counterparts Fred Egyir and Michael Nortey have been camping for eight days now.

The captain reckons the players have exhibited a massive tactical improvement in all sectors of their play, expressing the conviction that "the signs are good for the nation."

"We stand a better chance of achieving the desired result beginning Friday July 15 through Sunday July 17."

He told the GNA Sports, "the boys are not only in fantastic shape, but are eager to pick every point even at training."

The Golden Rackets are confronted with a must win tie, which demotes the loser to Zone III.

Egyir, a member of the 2003 team that succumbed to Armenia in Accra became part of the four-man team after dominating young Nortey in their trials whilst in Swedru.