FED Cup: Uganda in deep pit

FED Cup

Selected results

Group III

16-21 April

Morocco bt Uganda 3-0

Malta bt Uganda 3-0

Uganda's bumpy start in the FED Cup spelled a negative bearing on their pursuit for a slot in next year's Europe/Africa Zone Group II.

The 3-0 loss to Morocco in their opener at Ulcinj Bellevue, Montenegro Monday condemned Uganda to second last in Pool B of Group III. Still they lost their second game against Malta in similar fashion Tuesday.

That Uganda losing all the six rubbers in the team contest means their hopes of winning the group are finished with the competition now so much between Malta and Morocco.

Group III has four pools where the winners of each pool will play-off against each other to determine which nation will advance to FED Cup Europe/Africa Zone Group II in 2019.

Sandra Khissa, Winnie Birungi, Daphine Mukasa and Pathience Athieno can perhaps be excused for a lack of exposure at events of this magnitude.

In fact the "win" for Uganda here is in the fact that this is a beginning in the renaissance of Ugandan Tennis following the country's re-admission back on the ITF programme.

Participating for exposure other than winning the contest would understandably have been a realistic target for the travelling side under the tutelage of veteran coach John Oduke.

The Fed Cup is a premier international team competition in women's tennis that started in 1963.