New Captain for Zimbabwe as Davis team take on Uru...

New Captain for Zimbabwe as Davis team take on Uruguay in World Group tie

Zim Now Writer

As Zimbabwe takes on Uruguay in the World Group II play-off tie at Harare Sports Club, the hosts have appointed Takanyi Garanganga, a former top tennis player, as the new Davis Cup non-playing captain.

He succeeds Freeman Nyamunokora.

Garanganga, 32, joins a technical team that has Shane Tapera, Takura Muhwandagara, Ronan Mtisi and Thomu Thompson who were recently appointed as a development team by Tennis Zimbabwe.

The Zimbabwe-Uruguay tie takes place on February 3 and 4.

With a rich tennis resume that has taken him to the United States of America, Garanganga won the African Junior Championships at the age of 14, and went on to put Zimbabwe on the international tennis map by winning gold in the men's singles at the 2011 All-Africa Games in Maputo, Mozambique.

His win-loss record at the Davis Cup stands at 21-21.

Once ranked Number One in Zimbabwe, Garanganga nest week leads a team made up of Benjamin and Courtney Lock, as well as Mehluli Sibanda and Benedict Badza.

Said the new captain of his appointment: "I would like to thank the TZ board and executive for allowing me to take the responsibility for the nation for the upcoming games starting this coming weekend against Uruguay. Many thanks to the nation also for the support they have been showing to the tennis family for the past years," Garanganga said.

As they face 42nd positioned Uruguay on the Davis Cup rankings, Zimbabwe will be looking up to the Lock brothers who have fared well both in the Davis Cup and on the international circuit. Zimbabwe has a 67th rating.

Zimbabwe’s hopes, Benjamin and Courtney, recently assisted Zimbabwe secure promotion back to the Davis Cup World Group II Play-offs by overcoming Namibia 2-1 in a promotional play-off at the Africa Group III event in Algiers, Algeria in August last year.

The duo of Sibanda and Badza were also part of the team which was led by the then-non-playing captain Nyamunokora.