Golden Rackets' coach confident of promotion in Namibia

Accra, May 6, GNA- David Churcher, coach of Ghana's Golden Rackets is hopeful that his team gain promotion to Zone Two when they join other seven countries in the Euro-Africa Zone Three Competition billed for Namibia next week.

The coach who will lead the team to fight for promotion to Zone Two when the weeklong tourney commences on Monday May 10 expressed optimism about the chances of the Rackets when he spoke to the GNA Sports on Wednesday.

He said the team whose moral had soared with the return of number two seed, Henry Adjei-Darko and included Gunther Darker, Samuel Fumi and Solomon Koomson had so far shown extreme maturity in their play. The coach explained that the four had exhibited great groundstrokes returns and good court movement, though he lamented their inability to return serves with power and precision.

Coach Churcher said apart from Adjei-Darko who joined his colleagues late, the three others who had been in camp for almost three weeks had undergone special training, which emphasised on their deficiencies. "We have gone through loads of drills to correct the defects which all three players exhibited and they are responding very well," he added.

The coach who is credited with qualifying the country from Zone Four to Three in the 2000 and then to Zone Two the following year was convinced that the team would escalate to the occasion and make the country proud in Namibia.

Whilst gearing up for the difficult task ahead, the coach said "the players are poised to win something for themselves and the country and we hope to ride on that and their impressive forms to get there."

Coach Churcher was particularly impressed about the composure of inform US-based Adjei-Darko saying, "Henry has improved immensely."

The 21-year old Darko, who is the youngest in the team according to the coach, had so far exhibited great maturity coupled with sterling performances "which give me enough hope in Namibia."

Ghana, which lost to Slovenia in Accra and bowed to Tunisia in the playoff in Tunis, would attempt to win one of the two slots available for promotion to zone two during the contest in Namibia. Stakes will definitely be high for the Rackets, as the last two countries will be relegated.

The seven other countries participating in the tournament are Togo, Benin, Kenya, Mauritius, Ivory Coast, Turkey and the host nation, Namibia.