Just a few may pinpoint Togo, a West African football-loving nation neighbouring Ghana, with a inhabitants of lower than one-third of Delhi, on the tennis map. For a stretch of 19 years, they have been on a hiatus from the distinguished Davis Cup match, till the French-speaking nation made a return in 2022, and what adopted was a outstanding turnaround. Togo received 10 of their 11 Davis Cup fixtures within the final two years, together with a 3-2 win in opposition to Indonesia final 12 months, adopted by a shocking 4-0 victory over Latvia of their yard, which earned them a promotion to the World Group I play-offs.
On this handout picture, Togo’s Davis Cup group throughout a press convention forward of the Davis Cup World Group I Play-Offs tie in opposition to India, in New Delhi, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025(PTI)
Up forward lies a harder opponent in India, who may have the house crowd behind them, however the spirited Togo facet has their eyes on ‘historical past and recognition’ that’s at stake.
The group that arrived on Monday within the Indian capital comprised simply 4 gamers, captain Agnamba Ali and president of their tennis affiliation Ahialey Clement Mawuli. Thomas Setodji is their solely ranked participant, positioned at 1256, and the one one with a good thought of all of the Indian gamers, having come throughout them on the tour, the place he additionally serves as a travelling coach of French participant Calvin Hemery, who’s ranked 206. The others embrace Liova Ayite Ajavon, Hod’abalo Isak Padio and M’lapa Tingou Akomlo.
None of those gamers, nevertheless, practice in Togo. In quest of greener pastures, all of them ventured to overseas lands. Three of them, together with the skipper, reside in america of America, and two in France. However they always stay in contact by WhatsApp. And when a Davis Cup tie is drawn, they arrive collectively, practice, and win.
“Tennis, even as we’re here as a team, is an individual sport. Each player still knows the other. They know what to do to get ready. As we get together as a team, we train, we do what we have to do for the competition ahead. And I also think that these guys—believe it or not—we have a good chat that we talk regularly here, and then I mean either some jokes in the groups, whatever it is. So we may be a different part of the world, but we have a place where these guys can talk about the competition before coming here. So yeah, we have brought everything together when they need it for the competition,” mentioned Agnamba.
The 50-year-old Davis Cupper might have gave the impression of a stroll within the park for these gamers, however he admitted that the journey was removed from tough. Greater than incomes recognition on the largest stage, they have been desirous to show doubters fallacious again residence.
“You mentioned soccer, but let me tell you, Togo always had a good tennis team. It just happened that we haven’t competed in Davis Cup for the last 19 years. So there’s nothing we’re doing right now that surprises us. But of course, we got some wins when people doubted we could come through, and then we did that. So I think Togo is such a small country, but we have very good, talented young athletes who are always coming up. So, I think we are on the verge of making history here. Hopefully, this will go out with it this weekend,” he mentioned.
When additional pressed what made these gamers stronger by the course of this journey, Agnamba reckoned it was right down to having the “right attitude and team spirit.”
“This group of guys they’ve been since 2022, and I think it’s always like he said, I mean it’s a player against player, and you always have to expect the player to play the best. And if you have that attitude, nothing’s going to surprise you. So I mean, these guys have proven they can play against anybody, and then the results show. So with that mindset, the spirit of the team, I mean, we one group of players chasing the same drill, and I think the attitude is just going to be something that will carry us to the finish line,” he added.
Having admitted what’s at stake for this visiting facet, do Togo fancy their possibilities in opposition to an skilled Indian facet? Steodji mentioned something can occur in sports activities.
“It’s one human against one human. We have two arms, two legs. So we will see. We already beat some players with high ranking as your players. So we’ll see on Saturday. And one day you can play very good. Another day you can play very bad,” he mentioned. “It just depends on the day. So when you enter in the court, if you think that you can win, you can win. But if you come on court and you’re already lost, I mean, there’s no way to win a match. So that’s our mentality. And that’s maybe why we are here now.”