Team Kenya arrived in Luanda, Angola, on Sunday evening ahead of the 2025 Davis Cup Africa Group IV tournament that serves off Wednesday.
Despite a smooth flight with a stopover in Ethiopia, the team faced delays at immigration.
“The issue here in Luanda was the visa clearance. It took long,” explained head coach and captain Peter Rakuom.
Undeterred by the travel hiccups, the team remains focused on securing one of the two promotion slots to Group III.
With a blend of experienced veterans and emerging talent, Kenya is poised for a strong showing on the hard courts of Kikuxi Villas Tennis Academy in the four day event.
Leading the charge is 24-year-old Albert Njogu, fresh off winning the Uganda Open singles title.
Set for his fifth Davis Cup appearance, Njogu emphasised the importance of performance over experience.
“It’s not about how many times you’ve been to the Davis Cup. It is about the impact you make. Some play for a decade without making a mark. We’re here for quality and results,” he said.
Although most of the team’s training was conducted on clay, Njogu is confident about adapting to the surface shift.
“Right now, it’s all about tennis. Other things will follow.”
Veteran Ismael Changawa, 29, brings valuable experience. He joined the national team at age 13, becoming Kenya’s youngest-ever Davis Cup player. Now potentially marking his 10th appearance, he remains driven.
“It’s been an honour. I’ve grown with this team and I’m grateful to still be here,” said Changawa, the former Kenya Open champion, who recently reached the Uganda Open final in both singles and doubles.
Despite recent injury setbacks, he is match-ready.
“I’ll take it match by match. It’s about working hard, representing Kenya, and having fun,” said Changawa.
On whether this could be his final Davis Cup outing, Changawa remains non-committal.
“If I get called up again, I’ll be humbled.”
Outside tennis, Changawa balances music and entrepreneurship through his clothing brand, CMG, but in Luanda, his focus is squarely on performance.
Making his Davis Cup debut, Raymond Riziki, 20, brings youthful energy and humility.
“I don’t have big personal expectations. I want to gain experience, support the team, and grow,” said Riziki.
Despite an early Uganda Open exit, Riziki sees signs of progress.
“The loss was narrow, but it showed my work is paying off,” he said. Riziki has trained intensively this season, often twice daily.
Though most of his recent training took place on clay at Peponi School, he’s adjusting to hard courts.
“Clay is more physical—sliding and skidding—but I’m adapting well,” he said. While he plans to join college soon, tennis remains his top priority.
The squad also includes 20-year-old Kael Shah, based in the US, who is a back-to-back Kenya Open champion and enters his fourth Davis Cup campaign unbeaten in singles last year.
Brandon Sagala, also 20 and a reserve player, is making his debut and is regarded as a fast-rising prospect.
Kenya will face Angola, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, DR Congo, Burundi, Mauritius, and Gabon. The draw will be held at noon on Tuesday.
