Oringa wins trials for Team Uganda to Congo Davis Cup

Best Of The Best. Oringa (L) will lead Team Uganda to Congo Brazzaville whereas Birungi (R) will be on debut. PHOTOS BY DEUS BUGEMBE

What you need to know:

  • Ayella, one of Oringa’s teammates for the Congo mission will hope to emulate his father John Oduke who is arguaby Uganda’s greatest tennis player.
  • But the team will miss the immensely talented duo of Duncan Mugabe away in USA and Boris Aguma in Germany, who could not take part in the trials.

KAMPALA. David Oringa outclassed a pool of 10 elite players to top the national Davis Cup trials held at Lugogo Tennis Club for the last three days.

The former Uganda Open winner will be joined by Frank Tayewa, Simon Ayella and Edward Birungi to complete a contingent of four to Congo-Brazzaville in June for the Africa Qualifiers. More success in Congo guarantees promotion to Asia/Oceania zone group in 2020.

Oringa capped off his convincing three-day display unbeaten, powering over Tayebwa (4-2/4-1), Denis Waniala (4-0/4-0), Jonathan Mugisha (4-0/4-0) and Swaleh Sebulime (4-1/4-1) all on Day One. Day Two saw him pick up from where he left with scalps of Frank Nyango (4-0/4-0), Paul Ssekandi (4-1/4-1) and Edward Birungi (4-0/4-0) to claim pole position. He also forced Ayella into retirement.

“It was a great three days of tennis and I was in good shape. My experience played a big part in my performance because most of the lads have not played as much as I have but it’s good some have made the final team.” Oringa told Daily Monitor.

Oringa also made the cut last year only to be edged out by Kenya’s Sheil Kotecha (6-4, 6-7) in Nairobi. He is whoever confident that together with his teammates they can go a step further in Congo. “Last year was a learning experience. Things did not go well but we are working hard to get better and prepared for that kind of stage,” he added.

The lanky bloke played for Uganda Christian University Mukono at the All Africa University Games where he is defending champion, and represented Uganda at the World Islamic Solidarity Games 2017 in Baku, Azerbaijan as well as at the All Africa Games.

Ayella, one of Oringa’s teammates for the Congo mission will hope to emulate his father John Oduke who is arguaby Uganda’s greatest tennis player.
But the team will miss the immensely talented duo of Duncan Mugabe away in USA and Boris Aguma in Germany, who could not take part in the trials

HOW THEY FARED AT TRIALS

INDIVIDUAL RANKINGS THREE-DAY TRIALS
David Oringa 21 points
Frank Tayebwa 18 points
Simon Ayella 18 points
Edward Birungi 15 points