Stone brothers lead TT in Davis Cup

UNITED States-based top tennis players Shane and Troy Stone will lead the challenge for Trinidad and Tobago’s  promotion in the world’s biggest team tennis competition from March 29 to April 5.

The Stone brothers, men’s doubles bronze medallists at the Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games in El Salvador last December, are joined by Ivor Grazette, leading TT-based player and the promising Dexter Ma-hase. Reserves are Winning-ton Grazette and Jonathan Gomez. Coach is Lennox Francis with Ashton Wharwood as manager. TT come up against seven other countries in the American Zone III Davis Cup competition which will be contested on the newly relaid Rebound Ace surface of the Jean Pierre Complex, Mucurapo. The other teams are Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Puerto Rico, Jamaica, St Lucia and Bolivia. Competition will be in two groups, with singles and doubles matches on the same day.

At the end of the round-robin competition the two top teams in each group will bid for promotion honours in a play-off. The tournament was officially launched yesterday at the Crowne Plaza in Port-of-Spain. Those in attendance were Dave James, president of the Tennis Association; Ashton Wharwood, Public Relations officer of the TTTA; Melvin Black, Tournament Director; Oswald Downes, chairman of the Davis Cup Committee; Tim Naf-ziger, director of The X-cel Company Limited and Caira Cudjoe, Corporate Communi-cations Manager of Guardian Life Limited, representing the major sponsors of the tournament.

Downes appealed for assistance in staging the tournament which will cost approximately $300,000, the benefits of which he said will outweigh any contribution towards enabling TT to take their place among the leading tennis playing countries of the world. He also pointed out that Government, along with Crowne Plaza, is also making a significant contribution. Others assisting are international clothing manufacturers Hugo Boss who are supplying the uniforms of the ball boys/girls; and Wilson Sports from whom a supply of balls will come. Downes said because the Davis Cup is sponsored by France-based international financial institution BNP Paribas, the Organising Commit-tee is prohibited from approaching rival financial companies for sponsorship. He however hoped that the local gas/oil industries would respond to the tennis plight will play their part in making the tournament a success.

The theme underlined by Downes of corporate responsibility towards the development of healthy pursuits for the young people was also taken up by Nafzifer whose company is marketing the Xcel Health/Sports Drinks. Nafziger said he was especially proud to be associated with the Davis Cup American Zone III tournament since it was the first sponsorship offered by his company with an option to renew the relationship with the Tennis Association next year. Nafziger, who plays tennis five days a week, said his association with tennis started with the support of Shane Stone on the professional circuit for the past several years.

He said Xcel, produced by Solo Beverages and distributed and marketed by Blue Waters have put in all the ingredients to maximise local value.  Nafziger said the US-based manufacturers of Xcel isotonic exertion and isotonic cardiovascular drinks are on the verge of signing a major sponsorship deal with the United States Tennis Association who have endorsed the product for their members.