MASERU — Lesotho tennis looks set to return to the Davis Cup next year after almost a decade without the men’s national teams participating in the annual championship.
The country is also set to take part in the Fed Cup, the women’s equivalent.
Lesotho hasn’t featured at either the Davis Cup or the Fed Cup since 2001 and the likely return is a result of the country’s improved performances on the international stage in the past 12 months.
The development was confirmed by the former president of the Lesotho Lawn Tennis Association (LLTA) Motlatsi Morolong last Friday.
“Yes we will play in the Davis Cup. We didn’t have the ability to do so before,” Morolong told the Lesotho Times.
However Lesotho’s participation will depend on the condition of the facilities at the national tennis courts in Maseru.
“That will happen if the courts are fine,” Morolong said.
“We are hoping that in September we will start the repair work on the courts. We can’t do it in winter because the courts will crack. Give or take we should be done in four months.”
He said the eight courts at the national facility would require different kinds of work, but in general were in a poor state.
“They are in different condition,” Morolong said.
“Courts one and two will just need touch-up work (but) courts seven and eight have to be done again completely.”
Morolong said the renovations to the national courts would cost M450 000.
Meanwhile, the Lesotho Sports and Recreation Commission on Sunday dissolved the LLTA board led by Morolong citing in-fighting among board members.
