Nigeria’s Davis Cup team captain, Coach Benson Ishicheli, has revealed that Seun Shirk’s decision to stay away from the country’s Davis Cup World Group II tie against Morocco in Rabat was largely due to his lack of preparation for playing on clay.
Sports247 reports that Shirk was listed as part of Nigeria’s team for the tie but did not travel to Morocco, with Ishicheli explaining that the player informed the team’s secretariat that he was not sufficiently prepared or conditioned to compete on the clay surface at this stage.
“Unfortunately, Seun is not here to join the team. From what he sent down to the secretariat, he said he is not prepared and conditioned to play on clay at this moment,” Ishicheli explained.
According to the team captain, Shirk is coming directly from hard-court tournaments and did not feel confident about making the transition to clay without adequate preparation.
“He is just coming in from one hard court to the other. He does not have confidence that he would do that well on clay,” Ishicheli added.
The absence of Shirk has left the Nigerian camp disappointed, particularly given the experience and international exposure he could have brought to the team.
“I was disappointed; the whole team are disappointed. We hope he would join the team and boost the morale of the team, especially his record from Belgium to Wimbledon and the US Open,” the captain said.
Despite the setback, Ishicheli remains optimistic about Nigeria’s prospects in Rabat, insisting that the players who made the trip have now adapted to the challenging conditions.
“Our chances are bright. The boys have adapted to the surface and the weather. They are well conditioned now to go in and play,” he stated.
Nigeria will therefore head into the World Group II tie with its available players fully focused on competing against Morocco, with the team hoping its preparation and growing familiarity with the clay surface will translate into a strong performance.
The tie represents an important opportunity for the Nigerian players to test themselves against Morocco on the international stage, while the team management will be banking on unity, preparation and adaptability to produce the desired result in Rabat.
