A Polish Easter for Team Zim

01 Apr, 2018 - 00:04 0 Views
A Polish Easter for Team Zim The Zimbabwe Davis Cup team returns to action with an away tie to Poland this weekend.

The Sunday Mail

ZIMBABWE Davis Cup player Ben Lock plans to take some time away from the court and attend a church service in Poland as Christians across the world celebrate the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Maybe Lock will also pray that the knee injury that has been troubling Takanyi Garanganga will not flare up in a week Zimbabwe prepares to face Poland in a Europe/Africa Group II second round tie at Hala 100 Lecia Sopotu in Sopot.

The tie is on next weekend.

“Playing on the Easter weekend is kind of weird, normally that’s a definite off weekend but it is what it is,” Lock said.

“Normally on Easter holidays I obviously spend time with family, go to church.

For me it’s a really important holiday and a lot of religious people around the world as well.

“I will definitely try have some sort of service if I can in Poland if it’s possible before the tie, but otherwise this is sports you can’t always pick the days that you are away on duty.”

Speaking from Amsterdam, Netherlands Garanganga told The Sunday Mail Sport that he will be taking it easy this Easter holiday as he recovers from a knee injury suffered on tour in Japan.

“I am injured with a knee so (am) not doing much, but should be fine for the match.

I have been practicing, but not so much,” he said Garanganga.

Davis Cup skipper Gwinyai Tongoona will spend the holiday on his way to Poland in the company of the team’s youngest members, 19-year old Mehluli Sibanda and Mark Chigaazira. “Back in the day we would be playing the Caltex Open or Mash Open at Old Hararians on Easter Holidays, so this is not the first time for me to be involved in tennis over the Easter holiday,” said Tongoona.

“It is always an honour to represent your country and we are not complaining.

Yes we would have loved to be at home, spending time with our families, but national duty is calling and we have no option but to answer that very important call.

“As we head to Poland we are confident of doing well. I have watched highlights of some of their matches but obviously watching highlights does not give you much.

“We will take a closer look at Poland when they practice and come up with a game plan then.”

Sibanda made his Davis Cup debut against Turkey in March and is relishing another chance to serve the nation. “I am usually on the court every Easter and it’s not going to be different this year.

Being a Davis Cup player means a lot is expected from you and I have been putting in some hours at training and feel like I’m striking the ball really, really well.”

Meanwhile,Tongoona has been spending a lot of time on the internet of late working on a strategy that should see Zimbabwe do a smash a grab on Poland. “I have watched highlights of some of their matches but obviously watching highlights does not give you much,” he said.

“There isn’t a lot full matches on the net, I have tried to find one or two but with little luck but it’s not really a tragedy because it’s an ongoing effort.

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