Rackets Bounce Back

Ghana's Golden Rackets on Thursday bounced back from the throes of a disappointing qualification campaign when they beat host nation Botwana by two matches to one in the on-going Euro Africa Zone III competition currently underway in Botswana.

Salifu Mohammed set the tone for the Rackets with a two set win while (a not so fit) Henry Adjei Darko partnered step in first seed Gunther Darkey in the doubles to wrap up a relieving victory that should put coach Richard Ayi Dartey's team in a good frame against La Cote d' Ivoire.

The win was the first competitive Davis Cup match win for Ghana since May 2004.

The host nation's sole much win came under controversial circumstances after Ghana was penalized for presenting Salifu Mohammed as number 2 seed when he had not been initially registered in that slot.

The winners of the two pools will automatically gain promotion into Group II, whilst the bottom placed sides slam to Group IV.

The teams finishing third and fourth in each pool also advance to a round-robin pool. The teams finishing in third and fourth in this subsequent pool are relegated to Europe/Africa Zone Group IV in 2007.

The Golden Rackets, took off badly after his team lost crucial points at the Davis Cup by BNP Paribas Euro/Africa Zone Group III B qualifying tournament, on-going at the BTA Centre (Notswane Courts), Gaborone, Botswana.

The Rackets failed to survive against a hard-hitting Nigeria side, losing 2-1 on day one.