NAMIBIA were relegated to Africa Group IV of the Davis Cup after finishing bottom of Group III in Kenya over the weekend.
Namibia managed to win one of their three group matches, but then lost 3-0 to Benin in the play-off for seventh position to finish last among the eight competing nations.
It was a big setback, especially after Namibia had won the group last year, but team captain Jean Erasmus said the future looked bright.
“It’s obviously a big disappointment after we won Group III last year, so to be relegated after only one year is tough. But we have a young team this year that is learning the ropes, so with these boys in the mix, Namibia is in good hands and I look forward to a bright future,” he said.
The Namibian team suffered a major blow when their top ranked player Tukhula Jacobs had to miss the tournament due to visa issues, and a young team was assembled to represent Namibia.
It included the Van Schalkwyk brothers Codie who is 17 years old, and Connor, who will only turn 15 in November this year. Erasmus is 27 years old, while the fourth member of the team, Riaan de Witt is 37.
In the singles matches against Benin, Codie van Schalkwyk lost in straight sets to Delmas N’tcha 6-2, 7-6, while Erasmus lost 6-1, 6-2 to Alexis Klegou.
In the doubles, Riaan de Witt and Connor van Schalkwyk lost 7-5, 4-6, 10-2 to Sylvestre Monnou and Arnaud Sewanou, as Benin completed a comfortable 3-0 victory.
Namibia started their campaign on a winning note after beating Nigeria 2-1 on 11 September.
Codie van Schalkwyk lost his singles match 6-4, 6-2 against Emmanuel Idoko, but Erasmus beat Emmanuel Audu 6-2, 6-3, while the two then teamed up to beat Idoko and Paul Etim 6-4, 6-3 in the doubles, to give Namibia a 2-1 victory.
The following day they, however, lost 2-1 to Mozambique after Erasmus and Codie van der Merwe lost their doubles match 6-4, 6-3 to Bruno Nhavene and Franco Mata.
In the singles matches, Nhavene defeated Cody van Schalkwyk 6-4, 6-2; while Erasmus beat Mata 7-6, 6-3.
Aziz Ouakaa defeated Codie van Skalkwyk 6-2, 7-6; and Aziz Dougaz defeated Erasmus 6-3, 7-6; while Ouakaa and Skander Mansouri then teamed up to beat Codie and Connor van Schalkwyk 6-2, 6-2 in the doubles.
Despite being relegated, Connor van Schalkwyk said it had been a great experience.
“It has been an incredible experience representing my country in the Davis Cup for the first time, and doing it with my younger brother, Connor. It is a different energy playing in the men’s circuit – the intensity is a lot higher and I’ve learnt a lot,” he said.
“I just want what is best for the team and look forward to going back and working hard so that hopefully I can represent Namibia again in the future. It is a privilege and an honour,” he added.
